Who Do I Report Mold To In My Apartment

Mold Can Cause Illness

Mold spreads spores that can make you sick, including triggering asthma attacks and other respiratory issues. Black mold can be extremely toxic. A spot of mold the size of a dime contains approximately 500,000 spores. A mold issue in one room can lead to a whole building problem, as spores can easily travel through general air currents and HVAC systems and cross-contaminate the premises quickly. Through expert mold testing, our certified mold inspectors can help you discover whats causing mold growth in your home or business.

Mold sickness can cause sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, nose and throat, cough and postnasal drip, wheezing, rashes, and more. If you think youve been exposed to mold in your home or workplace, call us to schedule a consultation today.

Clean Up Mold And Moisture

If there is mold growth in a home, it should be cleaned up and the leaky plumbing or other factors that led to damp conditions should be fixed. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet , in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, by following the Mold Cleanup Tips and Techniques. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Absorbent materials that become moldy may have to be replaced.

• Avoid breathing mold. To limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores . The respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator. Keep work area well ventilated.
• Wear gloves. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used. If you are using chlorine bleach or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane or PVC. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.
• Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

Find more resources about mold clean up in multiple languages at the CDC websiteand additional information in English at the EPA website

Can I Fix The Problem Myself

Sometimes if a repair is not too major, you can “repair and deduct.” You can fix the problem and deduct the cost of the repair from your next month’s rent. Here are the rules:

Your problem must be one that makes your home unhealthy or unsafe. Examples:

• no heat or not enough heat in the winter
• unsafe drinking water
• falling ceiling

You must be able to fix the problem for less than $500 or half of your monthly rent, whichever is greater. For example:

• If your rent is $800 per month, you can spend up to $500 to do the repair.
• If your rent is $1,200, you can spend up to $600.
• This amount is increased to two times your monthly rent if your building is in foreclosure.

You, your family, or your guests did not cause the problem.

Before you fix the problem, you must write a letter to your landlord. Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. In the letter, ask your landlord to fix the dangerous condition within 14 days, or sooner if it is an emergency. Tell him that if he does not do the repair, you will have it fixed and deduct the cost from your rent. If your landlord offers to fix the problem, then you must let him into your home to do the repair. See Rights of Maine Renters: Landlord Coming Into Your Home.

If you have the work done, both the work and the materials must be of good quality. If your problem is with the heating, plumbing, or electricity, you must get a licensed worker to do the repairs.

Here are a few more “repair and deduct” limitations:

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Cleaning Up Small And Medium Mould Problems

Bleach is not necessary to clean up mould.

You can clean up small areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Unless the mould growth is on smooth surfaces such as bathroom tiles, surface cleaning will not eliminate the problem.

In most cases you can clean up medium areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Materials damaged by mould must be physically removed and disposed of under safe conditions. However, it is important to seek professional assistance if there is a large mould problem or if mould comes back after cleaning.

Susceptible individuals such as pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and occupants with asthma, allergies or other health problems should not be in or near the area where the mould is being cleaned up.

Minimum protective gear needed:

• a disposable N95 mask and
• household disposable gloves.

You can purchase an N95 mask from a hardware store. Make sure that the label says N95. Other masks are designed to provide limited protection against dust and are not suitable for protecting against mould exposure. Make sure that the mask is properly fitted and you can breathe through the mask.

I Believe My Apartment Has Mold How Do I Go About Speaking To The Office

My girlfriend and I rent an apartment In Pennsylvania, US. At a large complex. A couple weeks ago I decided to deep clean and after pulling my tv and speakers away from the wall I discovered one of my speakers was quite rotted. Come to find the corner it was placed was soaking wet. No stains or water on the wall or ceiling though. Now the other side of the wall is the shower Im not sure how long this chunk of carpet has been wet, if its related to the shower, if that black stuff in the shower is mold, and if the subfloor of this carpet is now mold too. What are my rights in this situation? How long should I give them to fix this? Should I pay for my own inspection to confirm its mold? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

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What If The Repairs Cost More Than $50000 Or Half My Monthly Rent

You and your neighbors may be able to use “repair and deduct” together to fix a bigger problem. For example, your building might have a bad roof or furnace which costs a lot to fix. If you had 8 tenants who each pay $800 per month, you could pay for a repair costing as much as $4000 .

Caution: We do not know of anyone who has tried this before in Maine. If you want to try a group “repair and deduct,” try to talk with a lawyer first.

If The Landlord Doesn’t Respond Right Away Call 311*

If your landlord fails to make repairs or does a shoddy job, you should consider calling 311*. For private housing tenants, calling 311 to report a housing maintenance issue will result in an inspection from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development . For NYCHA residents, a call to 311 will create an additional record of your complaint but HPD will not inspect your apartment automatically. You will need to also call the Customer Care Center at 707-7771 or make a complaint online to request repairs.

For private housing residents, a housing inspector will assess the condition and place housing code violations based on the severity of the condition. For mold, violations fall into three categories: Class A, Class B, and Class C.

• Class A: Mold of less than 10 square feet constitutes a Class A violation, meaning the owner has 90 days to cure the violation.

• Class B: Mold of more than 10 square feet but less than 30 square feet in a given room constitutes a Class B violation, considered hazardous and requiring the landlord to cure the violation within 60 days.

• Class C: Considered immediately hazardous, mold spanning 30 or more square feet constitutes a Class C violation and must be cured within 24 hours.

HPD will also require the landlord to trace the cause of the mold, phrasing violations as trace and repair the source and abate the nuisance consisting of mold.

illegal retaliation.

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Discovering Black Mold In Your Rental: First Steps

Suing your landlord for black mold should not be the first response upon discovering it in your rental, provided you haven’t suffered any health problems from being exposed. As with most landlord-tenant disputes, you should contact the landlord immediately upon discovering mold . The landlord is legally responsible for removing the mold and reimbursing you for any additional costs you have sustained. Even if you don’t suffer any injuries, a landlord’s failure to maintain a mold-free environment violates the implied warranty of habitability.

If the landlord fully takes care of a mold issue but you later exhibit health problems that you suspect were caused by the earlier mold exposure, you still may claim damages. If your landlord contradicts your concerns that your rental unit is contaminated with black mold, it’s up to you to pay for an inspection and testing but landlords who refuse to even consider the presence of toxic mold in such instances may open themselves up to increased liability.

What Should I Do If My Landlord Doesnt Do Anything To Get Rid Of The Bedbugs

You can take your landlord to court. You can get at least $250 or your actual damages . You must show that:

• you did not cause the problem
• you gave your landlord oral or written notice of the problem when you learned about it
• the landlord didnt take prompt steps to get rid of the bedbugs and
• you did not owe the landlord any back rent when you gave the notice.

Note: If your landlord tries to evict you within six months of your complaint, the law may protect you. See Retaliation Defenses.

Tips

• Make sure you have correctly identified the bug. You can send samples to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Insect Lab.
• Avoid picking up beds, mattresses and other old furniture off the street or from the dump.
• When moving to a new place from one with bed bugs, make sure that you are not bringing the bugs, or their eggs, with you in your belongings.

Here is a helpful resource on bed bugs, how to identity them, and how to get rid of them:

Some Maine landlords have been using high-heat treatment as a remedy.

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How Long Does A Landlord Have To Fix A Mold Problem In New York

When mold is found, it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. If a landlord does not act promptly when they receive a written notice of mold, the tenant can take further action.

Tenants can move out without being responsible for future rent if the landlord does not perform the repairs.

Alternatively, tenants can stay in the rental and sue the landlord for damages, which would be the difference between the stated rent and the rentals worth due to its deplorable condition.

Landlords can also be ordered to make repairs by judges.

The law requires landlords and tenants to work together and cooperate to get problems fixed.

What needs to be done for this problem will depend on the type of mold, whether it is causing an immediate danger to human life or an immediate and serious threat to the health or safety of occupants, the actual rental unit affected, how much work is needed, etc.

The first step should be discussing the problem with the landlord to find out what needs to be done and how it can be fixed as quickly as possible.

Black Mold Is A Health Hazard

Technically known as Stachybotrys chartarum, black mold poses a serious threat to human health by causing respiratory problems, mental impairment, skin inflammation, and internal organ damage.

Black mold thrives in moist, dark places that have poor air circulation like between walls or beneath floorboards. That means it can go unnoticed until its too late.

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Is A Landlord Responsible For Mold In New York

If you rent a property in New York, you will need to know your rights so you can protect yourself. Is a landlord responsible for mold in New York?

A landlord is responsible for mold in New Yorkif a tenant moves into a rental property with an existing mold problem. New Yorklaw states that landlords are responsible for the removal of that mold.

Here are some things that you should be aware of when it comes to mold and landlords.

Mold Caused By A Landlords Failure To Fix Leaks

Landlords in all states but Arkansas are responsible for maintaining fit and habitable housing and repairing rental property, and this extends to fixing leaking pipes, windows, and roofsthe causes of most mold. If the landlord doesnt take care of leaks and mold grows as a result, you might be able to hold the landlord responsible if you can convince a judge or jury that the mold has caused a health problem.

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Safely Clean Small Patches Of Mold And Seal Off What You Cant Clean

While you wait for repairs, you can clean small patches of mold with a mild solution of bleach and water. If youre sensitive to mold, ask someone else to do the cleaning.

If the mold has spread to other household items, like curtains or rugs, its best to throw those items away. If you have receipts for anything you have to throw out due to the mold, save them. And if you need to buy anything for the clean up, save those receipts too. You may be able to get your costs reimbursed by going to small claims court.

Whatever you cant clean should get sealed off with plastic bags, or tarps, and duct tapethis can help prevent mold from circulating in the air. Mold in your apartment is actually a symptom of a bigger problem: extra moisture, caused by things like leaky pipes and poor ventilation. If the moisture doesnt get addressed properly, mold will keep coming back.

Obligation To Disclose Owner

The second obligation every landlord has is to disclose to their tenants certain information about the owner of the property. This responsibility lies with the person who has signed the lease agreement with the tenant, whether it be the buildings owner, the landlord, or another individual who is acting as the landlords agent.

What to Disclose

The names and addresses of the individual or individuals with the power to manage the building, collect rent, make repairs, address complaints or issue notices.

How to Disclose It

This disclosure should usually be made in writing and should occur before the actual tenancy begins. If any changes occur during a tenants tenancy, the tenant must be notified of the change.

Why This Disclosure Is Important

The purpose of this obligation is to ensure that the tenant knows the correct contact person for various activities such as rent collection and maintenance requests, as well as for any legal issues that may arise.

If this disclosure of owner is not made to the tenant, the person collecting the rent becomes the go-to person for handling all matters related to the property.

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What Are My Options If The Owner Refuses To Help

First, it is important to check the lease agreement between the tenant and the landlord. Leases seldom address mold or moisture specifically, but they should include language specifying how maintenance and repair concerns are handled.

If a landlord fails to make repairs, the Attorney Generals publication Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities suggests a number of remedies, including filing a complaint with the local housing, health, or building inspector, if there is one. Tenants can contact their city or county to see what codes and inspection services may be available.

The availability of inspectors and local codes varies throughout the state. Some cities have adopted property maintenance or rental housing codes. Another option may be the local health department. Some local health departments may apply their authority under Minnesota Law to declare a property a public health nuisance and may issue correction orders to the landlord. The Minnesota Department of Health does not provide direct services, such as inspections or testing, for mold problems.

If the city or county are unable to help, you may be able to take legal action, including a rent escrow action. The tenant should try to document the problem, where applicable, with letters, photographs, evidence of health problems, orders from local inspectors, and any other documentation that would help the case. More information on legal rights and action is available from these sources:

Bedbugs: What Can I Do To Avoid Them And Get Rid Of Them

Bed bugs have become much more common in Maine. They are difficult to get rid of. As with other health and safety issues, the first step is to contact your landlord and ask him to have the building professionally treated. You and others in the building will also have to take steps to help combat the problem.

Before you rent:

It is illegal for a landlord to rent an apartment that he knows to have bedbugs. He must also tell you whether other nearby apartments in the building have bedbug problems.

Before you rent ask when the apartment and nearby units:

• were last inspected for bedbugs, and
• found to be free of bedbugs.

The landlord must give you an honest answer.

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