What do I do, we have a black mold problem i have an 18 month old and a 14 month old, landlord procrastinates.

Question

I have asked our landlord several times to fix the bathroom but he will not, he did come in 3 months ago and painted overe the mold because it was really bad over the shower and he put a new motor in the fan, we first told him about it in november, i have been telling him and telling him that the leaking toilet is most likely why the mold is so bad, if you look behind the toilet it is copletely black covered with mold, i am allergic to it, plus I have asthma, for the past 3 months my babies have been sick the smaller one just got better from rsv, she had to have albuterol treatments because she was weezing, now it sounds like she is getting sick again already. I have been I told the landlord over a month ago that I was going to call a plumber and he was going to pay for it and he said not to that he would fix it, but still has not, I am only 18 so it has been hard to find another apartment, (money plus i do not have credit) is there something I can do to have my landlord do something

i know how to clean it, but there are no windows in the bathroom and the fan is a joke, i am pretty sure the mold is in the walls and i think it is coming under the walls and is in under my carpet in the living room

i need a number or something so maybe i can report my landlord, are there any resources? we can not keep staying here its making the babies sick

Answer 1

I would call your local health department, and have them come check it. have them send the bill to the land lord, it is his responsibility to have your apartment clean and in working order. I dont think they could charge you anyway.

Answer 2

How does an 18 year old get two babies born 4 months apart?
Until you can get the landlord to fix the problem CLEAN the mold with bleach and water. You may not get rid of all of it but you will greatly reduce the amount.
Write a letter listing all of the problems and mail it certified, return receipt requested to the landlord.
Contact HUD, they will tell you what else you need to do.

Answer 3

The first person to answer you is right. I wouldn't want to continue to rent from that landlord though. If you get him in trouble he is probably not going to be pleasant to deal with. If you can find a way to move that would be best. You might ask an attorney or someone if there is a way to make your landlord pay for your moving expenses because you have been paying him rent and he hasn't been providing a healthy environment in which to live in.( maybe the reimbursement the first person mentioned might cover that) Good Luck, I hope your little ones start feeling better. I don't know how your landlord sleeps at night making your little ones live in those conditions.

Answer 4

Call your local health department.
Consult Renters Rights.
Both which are state run.
It is illegal for your landlord to keep the premises in such condition that it may affect the health of the tenants.
He will be given notice and a time frame in which to comply with the authorities.
Renters Rights may be able to help you get the problem finished and get re-reimbursement from the owner.

In the meantime. Get a bucket of water and add a cup of vinager and a 1/4 cup of baking soda, wipe down the walls the show spots. It will help with the spores in the air that you are breathing.
edit: bleach will could be too strong for the little ones to breathe.

Edit: Your local health department will be very helpful. There is no national health department, you have to contact yours. Call information, look in your phonebook or search for health dept + (your state) and it will take you to their website. Secondly, Legal Aid may provide legal help.

Answer 5

Hello, you can use a water and chlorine bleach solution to clean the mold. Send him a certified letter telling him the things that must be repaired in the house give him a date to have the things repaired. Put him on notice he is responsible for family illnesses due to mold. You move out if he does not do the repairs. If you have a certified letter it will hold up in court.