Mold in a home being rented...? (apartments, lease, tenant, rental)
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I am posting this on behalf of one of my friends...I will see if she will come and post here.
This may be a bit of a ramble...
Anyone have experience with allergy/rash related to this?
The last 6-8 weeks I've been breaking out in crazy hives all over my body...they come and go...it looks as if Wolverine is following me around clawing at me. I'll attach pics.
My boyfriend has had a cough that won't go away and he just left town (for a week) and it's gone.
I am renting an older townhome with terrible ventilation (like, did people in the 50's not like windows?!?) and obvious moisture and water damage issues. I can see water marks on the ceiling and what looks like black mold around AC vents. I just had maintenance guy come 'clean' but I know that's just the surface. Also, in kitchen under sink there is a leak that looks to be the cause of mold around it. I am the one who is in kitchen the most.
Could the rash be related? It happens everywhere but most often when I'm home. So I know there is something circulating in my system. I want to move out asap and wonder if I get my blood tested for mold spores if I can use to get out of lease. I doubt the landlord will want to go through the process of complete mold removal from inside walls and AC system. There is obvious water leak around the main AC return vent in ceiling.
I am really getting fed up with breaking out daily. See pics below. And NO, I did not scratch myself in any of these. I will start to feel warm and itchy and I look and this is what has manifested. It'll come and go just as quickly--usually in 15-20 minutes.
I am attaching pics I just took of house. I am going to contact landlord today and see what's up. I can guarantee though it won't be fixed properly- she employs one inept maintenance guy who doesn't do anything right. I'm sure he also works with what little funds he is given.
I just want out. Couldn't locate original lease, only the extension.
There are pictures from under sink where it leaks. I sprayed cleaner on it but am afraid to mess with it even more. I hadn't noticed it until recently (been here almost 2 years) because we just keep a few cleaning supplies under this sink and I just open and shut daily to get dishwasher pods....
Also two pics of where the ceiling is showing water stains. Two places. One near AC main vent and one over living room (directly under 2nd bath).
Notice the 'fix' job of putting a ROCK to hold up a pipe under our sink. THIS is the kind of work the maintenance guy does. (ehh, sorry sink pics upside down)
I have advised her to contact her LL to have them come out and look at the problem. Told her to talk pictures and document everything.
I do apartment leasing so I do not have much experience in rental homes at all.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I do have access to the emails she has sent and what the LL sent back. She was suppose to come out and look at the townhouse today, but did not.
From: Patricia
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 9:49 AM
To: Marisa
Subject: Mold
Marisa,
There is a strong possibility that our townhome has mold. There are several places in ceiling showing that there are water leaks throughout home. Also under kitchen sink which had not been properly repaired (see attached pics).
If there is a mold problem simple cleaning will not do- I have contacted a contractor friend who said complete removal and replacement of dry wall and wood, etc would be needed. As I type I am getting an estimate on how much a mold specialist will charge to come out and inspect this property.
See pics:
The unexplained rash I get happens almost entire time i am home. It looks like either a blob sometimes or scratch marks, I can guarantee I am not scratching myself and have several witnesses who have seen the rash appear on its own. Also Ricardo has been coughing non stop for over a month, and once he left the townhome for a few days it immediately went away and hasn't returned.
If there is found to be mold problem here I expect it to be completely fixed or let out of lease, you may keep deposit. Thank you.
____________________________________________
From: Marisa
To: Patricia
Sent: Tue, April 16, 2013 9:56:11 AM
Subject: RE: Mold
If there are several places where there are signs of humidity, why did you let us know immediately ? How can we fix something we do not know anything about? You should know by now that I respond immediately to any requests for repairs. We will take care of the repairs if needed. Let me know when I can come to inspect . Additionally, there is a virus going on at this time. We were all sick with it last week, my grand-daughter came down with it yesterday and could not go to school. If you are home now, I will come see you. Marisa
____________________________________________
Re: Mold
From:
Patricia
To: Marisa
The place in living room has been there since we moved in. Fransisco has seen it on numerous occasions, I didn't think it was cause of mold. Also, our shower leaks when we take shower onto our patio. To be honest, I didn't mentio that area before because I figured it wouldn't be addressed properly or fixed anyway. Yes, you respond quickly BUT it seems like you are not given enough funds to get things fixed properly. Fransisco doesn't do things correctly- I have had to have Ricky go back and fix things properly after Fransisco has left.
The water stains near the AC return vent I just noticed. Funny Fransicso was up there and didn't mention anything.
Also the under the sink leak I just noticed as well, I only put cleaning supplies at very front and only open for those. Ricky noticed the rock that is being used to hold up a pipe.
She is worried about her health. She has already called and scheduled an appt. She didn't realize the two could be connected til yesterday.
Yes she is asking about the rash...but she also needs to know her rights in regards to being a tenant if this stuff is actually mold and what her remedies need to be as well as what the LL should be required to do.
To determine if the mold in your home is toxic is to contact your state health department. I believe here in Arizona its something like $250 for an inspector to come out and test for mold. These tests will tell if its toxic or non toxic mold. Its rather expensive, but its really the only option. Going straight to your LL will cause them to deny everything and say your crazy. So, instead, hire your own mold detective. If it is mold, you can legally break your lease, or your LL will simply move you to another unit. As for the repairs, contact whatever tenant and landlord association agency in your city. I did this due to my apartments keeping conditions unlivable. The association gave me information on how to force your LL to make the proper repairs by I.e. 10 day noncompliance of repairs. If your LL fails to make those repairs in the time stated, then you can just walk away from your lease. Also, use CERTIFIED MAIL!! When delivering these noncompliance notices. Be aware though, even though your LL failed to fix an issue and you legally break your lease, the LL can go after you for the remainder of your lease. However, any judge that sees the conditions of the unit and the failure on the LL part to make timely repairs to specifications of the state will issue you your break lease legally and make all judgments null and void on the LL part. Its called a Break-Lease clause.
Thank you. I will have to see if Houston has an association for individual owners and tenants. I am only familiar with the one for HAA which is the Houston Apartment Association since I am a leasing agent here in Houston. At this point she just wants to be out of the lease and be able to move to a different house all together.
If she's that worried about her health she would have gone to a doctor already...
I haven't had a doctor nor have I been to one in years. I do not have health insurance.
Thanks for your obvious concern. Appreciated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredC
To determine if the mold in your home is toxic is to contact your state health department. I believe here in Arizona its something like $250 for an inspector to come out and test for mold. These tests will tell if its toxic or non toxic mold. Its rather expensive, but its really the only option. Going straight to your LL will cause them to deny everything and say your crazy. So, instead, hire your own mold detective. If it is mold, you can legally break your lease, or your LL will simply move you to another unit. As for the repairs, contact whatever tenant and landlord association agency in your city. I did this due to my apartments keeping conditions unlivable. The association gave me information on how to force your LL to make the proper repairs by I.e. 10 day noncompliance of repairs. If your LL fails to make those repairs in the time stated, then you can just walk away from your lease. Also, use CERTIFIED MAIL!! When delivering these noncompliance notices. Be aware though, even though your LL failed to fix an issue and you legally break your lease, the LL can go after you for the remainder of your lease. However, any judge that sees the conditions of the unit and the failure on the LL part to make timely repairs to specifications of the state will issue you your break lease legally and make all judgments null and void on the LL part. Its called a Break-Lease clause.
Thanks Jared. I have called around to two inspectors. Both will run between 500 and 600 for complete inspection and sampling. Yep, that high. I also called specialist who work with only testing mold in urine (for antibodies and microtoxins) and those run 500-700. Definitely something I'm going to have to think about.
The problem is I KNOW this landlord is not going to fix it like it should be (ie- gut the place). I also know she won't put us up anywhere in the mean time.
I want to just walk away but don't want to break the lease and be liable for it.
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