Mold in my house?

Question

I think I might have mold in my house. Ever since we moved in there was the distinct smell in two of the rooms that we can't get rid of. I've noticed I have been getting sick more and had more flu-like symptoms since we moved. We rent the house, so should i bring it up to the landlord? And is it the landlords responsibility to pay for costs?

Also who else should I contact for this?

Answer 1

Yes , this is a real big deal. Most landlords would want to know right away so that they can resolve this. It will make you very sick. You should not have to do anything. It is the landlords responsibility and will know what to do and who to do it. You should be offered other housing.

If the landlord doesn't do anything, contact legal aid or fair housing.

Bleach mixed with water will help. It will remove the mold that you see but you don't know if it is inside the walls. You also don't know (as you suggested) if what caused the mold is fixed.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Why do you think you have mold? A smell? Your health?

You should bring it up to the landlord if you would like it invesitgated and fixed. It may indeed be mold, or there may be water leaks he needs to take care of. If he is a good LL he will want to fix any water leaks to protect his property.

If the mold is because you don't clean, it is your cost. Otherwise, it is the owners cost. As for contacting, you might want to consider the Health Dept. Keep in mind there is no reliable science indicating mold causes health problems (unless oyu are already sickly) and we are surrounded by mold all the time, so a "mold test" will show mold present and will not prove that your illness is related to the mold.

Answer 3

Yes, you should notify the landlord. And yes, it's up to him to remediate. Contact your local health department and code inspection department if the landlord refuses to correct this.

You should also consult with your physician if you feel that it is making you ill. Most molds do not present health hazards in most people according to the Centers for Disease Control. Here's a link to some info on their site: http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

I used to own several rental properties. I had a sewer line collapse under one of them and it caused water from the kitchen sink and washing machine to back up into the house and caused extensive mold damage because the tenant didn't bother to notify me for over 6 months. Remidiation costs exceeded $40,000 due to the delay. They had to rip out all the flooring and drywall in the affected areas and replace the sill plates and half the studs in the interior walls in the house.

Answer 4

Mould would mean there is a dampness problem, which you should notify the landlord about. In the meantime get the place cleaned up and open the windows and doors and get some fresh air through. Try to find where the smell is (in the carpet/ chipboard cupboards). Don't use any old airconditioning units if the smell is from them.

Answer 5

Yes, tell your landlord. If the condition was there before you moved in, he's supposed to have it taken care of. And you're probably right: Mold can cause some very severe health problems, and if you've got it you need to get out fast!

Good luck!

Answer 6

purchase a high quality style mold killer eg "go out mold". some artwork in as low as 3 minutes. in simple terms spray the mildew & watch it disappear before ur very eyes. U do no longer even ought to bathe or wipe! yet open a window or activate a fan, it incredibly is exceptionally fumey & are not getting it on ur clothing! I used to bathe hotel rooms (the main disgusting you could ever see) and that's the only factor that worked for me! At domicile in my bathing room I used an additive to renounce mold offered from a ironmongery shop. mixed it in with my customary paint & gave my bathing room a sparkling coat of paint. No mold ever lower back!

Answer 7

I have much experience with this.

First of all, finding a MOLD lawyer to take a case, good luck. Further, when you do they want mega bucks up front.

MY cousins entire ceiling came crashing in on them. They were sick from mold and had to move into a hotel for six months.

Finally, they got them to have someone clean their belongings but they lost half of their things and they had to pay to move and all that.....cost them thousands.

Landlords have money for a big time lawyer and my cousins are out the money and the loss of all their things, not to mention living in a hotel for six months with two kids.

It is VERY very hard to find a lawyer. My cousins got screwed.

And we live in the Bay Area along the coast where mold is prevelant.

Answer 8

I would suggest you have your landlord hire a mold inspector. If your landlord refuses, I suggest you pay for it. Better safe than sorry.

If there IS mold, contact an attorney.

Answer 9

hell yeah it is. I worked at an home warranty company for years and mold is a HUGE deal. dozens of million dollar lawsuits I saw. You should get a professional company to check it out asap. If its a small amount of mold some bleach and water will get rid of it but if its been there a long time it is growing and there is a foundation or plumbing leak probably which is causing it. the leak needs to be stopped and the mold remediated asap.

Answer 10

YES!!!!