Mold Problem in Millbrae home...what to do about it? (Daly City: to rent, condo)

[bayarea2010]

Here is my issue with the home that we used to rent (just moved out a couple of days ago).

We rented a home in Millbrae, CA for 1 year (lease). We moved in February of 2009. We started having mold problems towards the Fall season of 2009 when it was starting to get more cold in the bay area.

When I first saw the mold I just cleaned it up with bleach cleaners. The mold would disappear, but come back a few weeks later.

I never mentioned it to the landlord because Millbrae (landfill land and the soil is horrible!) is known for its soil not being the best and I just dealt with the mold thinking that everyone in Millbrae (that has not remodeled their home like that one I was renting is dealing with the same issue), plus I am not the type of person to complain about something that I can clean up myself.

The mold was just a pain in the rear. It even grew green "fuzzy" type of mold also in the bedroom closest floors, the kitchen pantry and it grew wall mold on the bedroom walls and on th window seal too.

We decided that we would just move out and get out of the home, yet we didn't mention it to the landlor about the mold. All she asked was is there any reason as to why you are moving? I have a gut feeling though that she knows about the mold problem and just didn't disclose it because her home would not rent out and so forth. She used to live there ans moved out and jsut rents the home out.

My concern is...the future tenants.

What should I do? Is there a place where I can report the mold problem in that home? I have pictures of the mold too to prove the problem. I am not looking into suing the landlord at all. I am justt concern about the mold and the tenants that are going to live there next, ESPECIALLY if infants are living there or people with severe allergies.

What can I do about this issue? Any input is appreicated a lot!

Thanks!

[twins4lynn]

Originally Posted by bayarea2010

Here is my issue with the home that we used to rent (just moved out a couple of days ago).

We rented a home in Millbrae, CA for 1 year (lease). We moved in February of 2009. We started having mold problems towards the Fall season of 2009 when it was starting to get more cold in the bay area.

When I first saw the mold I just cleaned it up with bleach cleaners. The mold would disappear, but come back a few weeks later.

I never mentioned it to the landlord because Millbrae (landfill land and the soil is horrible!) is known for its soil not being the best and I just dealt with the mold thinking that everyone in Millbrae (that has not remodeled their home like that one I was renting is dealing with the same issue), plus I am not the type of person to complain about something that I can clean up myself.

The mold was just a pain in the rear. It even grew green "fuzzy" type of mold also in the bedroom closest floors, the kitchen pantry and it grew wall mold on the bedroom walls and on th window seal too.

We decided that we would just move out and get out of the home, yet we didn't mention it to the landlor about the mold. All she asked was is there any reason as to why you are moving? I have a gut feeling though that she knows about the mold problem and just didn't disclose it because her home would not rent out and so forth. She used to live there ans moved out and jsut rents the home out.

My concern is...the future tenants.

What should I do? Is there a place where I can report the mold problem in that home? I have pictures of the mold too to prove the problem. I am not looking into suing the landlord at all. I am justt concern about the mold and the tenants that are going to live there next, ESPECIALLY if infants are living there or people with severe allergies.

What can I do about this issue? Any input is appreicated a lot!

Thanks!

If you want to report it, the office to contact is the San Mateo County Health Dept's Environmental Health Section pertaining to housing. San Mateo County - Health - Health Divisions - Community Health - Environmental Health - Housing Programs

BTW, Millbrae isn't on landfill. The soils (where I live) is actually clay. I don't have a mold problem, but I also keep my house well ventilated to make sure of that!

[bellalunatic]

Soil has nothing to do with mold.
For future reference you need to report ANY problems with the unit such as mold, to the LANDLORD, in written form preferably, so that it is recorded just in case it is needed in the future.
Mold can be hazardous as well as a symptom of other problems with the building itself.
I know that as a landlord I PREFER when my tenants keep me informed, since I don't live in the unit (and never have), how else would I know?

[bayarea2010]

Clay type of soil does not absorb water well. The water stays "flooded" and does not drain. Also, I did the best I could to ventilate the home. Even with double pane windows, all of the wondows would get wet inside. I would have to go around and dry the windows every morning to help keep the mold issue controlled to some point.

It's true, I should have told the LL. I will report the mold problem and hope that it gets fixed before others move.

[zitsky]

(Scratching head...)

I really don't know why you never told the landlord?! I would want my tenants to tell me immediately! It's nice that you dealt with it, but it really wasn't your responsibility. The landlord should take care of that.

[ReplyToYou]

I lived in Millbrae (west side) for many years and never had a mold problem (and neither did any of my neighbors and friends who live in various parts of Millbrae); therefore, I strongly believe it has to do with ventilation problem in the house. I moved from Westlake in Daly City where I did have mold issues. Part of the problem was b/c the previous owner venting his dryer into the crawl space under the house and the vents were all plugged up.

You mentioned in your first post that Millbrae is on landfill... as you now know that is definitely not true. Which part of Millbrae did you live at?

I am a landlord and am grateful when a tenant informs me of any adverse conditions my property may have. To me, that separates the good tenants from the bad tenants. I once had an oddly evasive tenant and much to my dismay I learned after he moved out that there was drainage problem in the shower for a long time but he never told me. Apparently his hair and other junk was collecting and clogging the pipes. Also, the toilet was leaking and there was major water damage to the subfloor. They were very costly repairs and had the tenant informed me of these disrepairs when he first noticed, they could have been fixed without causing further damage to the property. You obviously had really bad luck during your tenancy, why you didn't report it to your landlord is something I can't understand. And now complaining it to everyone but the landlord is just mean and irresponsible.

[madison2008]

Hi,

I am looking forward to rent an apt/condo in Milbrae. Can you please tell me, which community was this? so that I can avoid it. At least the street and the cross street?
Many thanks