My Boyfriend and I have been SICK since we moved into our new home, flu like symptoms..?

Question

It has been pretty constant, he was in the ER this morning, diagnosed with bad virus told to take Advil and sleep. I have been on antibiotics on and off for 3 months now, since two days after we moved in. Nothing helps. What was really weird was that on Thanksgiving, we were fine for 3 days.....while we stayed at my mother's house for the holiday. Then a day or so after we got home, the symptoms returned. This is a rental unit, the landlord is a total sleeze so going to him and saying that we suspect maybe mold is at the root of it will be useless. We can break lease and move, but then we are out our security deposit. Has anybody else had this? Is there a test that can be done? We have had the Health Department in already when we had a carbon monoxide problem and the landlord refused to fix it so I know that they will come out and fine him again, but I just wonder who else may have had this sort of problem and how they handled it. Thanks

The problem with the carbon monoxide was rectified as soon as the health and safety officer came out, so I know it is not that anymore. The other issue is that whenever Al (the landlord) gets a complaint, he goes bananas making threats, pounding on our door, yelling screaming......I would say enough and simply bail, but our deposit was 2 months rent = over 4,000 dollars, not something I want to just throw away. If anybody has had similar experiences, I would love to hear how they handled it.

Answer 1

"Sick building" syndrome is known to exist, but it is often nearly impossible to track down the cause. From the description of your landlord, its unlikely that he/she will do anything to help you. It makes the most sense to just move out.

I worked in a Federal office building where people kept getting sick, and we had toxicologists, chemists, engineers, and public health inspectors investigate the building tor two years and they all agreed that something seemed to be wrong, but they could never find the cause or even figure out a solution. This cost hundreds of thousands of dollars - not an amount most landlords would spend for a dilapidated rental unit. They told us that it is very difficult to fix sick buildings, and that the best solution is usually to move - so we did.
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Move out. Find another place to live, and don't pay your last month's rent. Most states require around a month to evict someone. The landlord can try to collect the rent, but its usually a bigger hassle than its worth.

Answer 2

Sounds like a mold problem and maybe other things. Get your place tested for mold ASAP. Look in the yellow pages for someone who tests for it or call the health department and they can help you find someone. If carbon monoxide is part of the problem you need to get OUT OF THERE ASAP and get a motel room or stay with friends and tell the landlord you will send him the bill via your lawyer if he doesn't fix it promptly then follow through.

Answer 3

Mold can be deadly. You have to report this to the health department. It is the landlords problem if he refuses to fix the violations. In the mean time start looking for some where else. You cannot be held to a lease if there are open violations on file with the health department.

Answer 4

yeah I would suggest calling the healt department in again. sounds like it could be a mold issue or carbon monoxide...I would find out what your rights are as a tenant in your area, because you shouldn't have to be living in these conditions and also be out of your deposit either.

Answer 5

You mean the doctor's answer? Well did they test you for swine flu? The doctors are suppose to do a quick lab test to make sure you dont have swine flu. Go to a different doctor if they didnt test you.

Answer 6

Check your house for mold!!!