Mold in Apartments and Tenant Rights in California: Take Control

Table Of Content

• Serving Southern California
• Suspicion of hidden mold
• The Legal Rights of a Tenant Is If Mold Is Caused By Landlord Negligence
• What to know about mold damage, how to spot it in your home after Tropical Storm Hilary
• The Liability of Your Landlord Is If They Fail to Remove Mold
• Getting help with fixing a mold or dampness problem
• All Local Health Jurisdiction Letters ＆ Notices
• Angeles

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards.

Serving Southern California

Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets. In addition, authorities reported “excessive amounts of mold throughout the premises, posing significant health risks to occupants.” They also noted “severe electrical hazards and exposed high-voltage wiring” at the scene. During the search, officers said an extensive marijuana grow operation spanned from the house to the garage of the property.

Suspicion of hidden mold

Non-certified contractors and handymen make up 99% of all failed clearance inspections. Because they grow and spread so easily, molds (and mold spores) can be found virtually everywhere. Outdoors, molds play an important role in the breakdown and recycling of organic material like leaves and other foliage.

The Legal Rights of a Tenant Is If Mold Is Caused By Landlord Negligence

For people that are sensitive to molds, it can cause stuffy nose, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or skin irritation. Immune-compromised people and those with chronic lung illnesses may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, sampling and testing is not necessary to know the health risk. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.

There are many Los Angeles Mold Inspection companies that will offer free or discounted inspections because they are also remediation contractors. It is always recommended to use an inspection company that does not have any interest in the amount of remediation work that may be necessary. Companies that do often inflate the amount of work and or recommend work for non-existing issues, in order to make more money on the remediation work. Spending a little extra for a non-bias honest mold inspection company is well worth it. With every inspection, we provide a detailed report with pictures, all findings and a scope of work.

Georgia ranks in top 10 states most at risk of mold in homes - ValdostaToday.com

Georgia ranks in top 10 states most at risk of mold in homes.

Posted: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Liability of Your Landlord Is If They Fail to Remove Mold

Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced. You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. In California, there are several ways that tenants could potentially sue for damages relating to indoor air quality and mold spore exposure in rental properties. Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all.

If you spot mold on walls or ceilings made of sheetrock or plaster, you can make them disappear without replacing any materials. But if mold appears on a very porous surface, such as a ceiling tile, it's best to replace it right away. Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

All Local Health Jurisdiction Letters ＆ Notices

Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold. Luckily, there are many other spots in the house where you can properly display your prized possessions. The most common places to display these items include the living room, dining room, and bedroom, but be more creative and consider secondary spaces like the hallway and home office. The hallway or entryway to your house can display some of your best decorations because that's what everyone will see every time they walk in. This space is great for displaying more personal items like family portraits and artwork. The home office, media room, or any secondary living room (like the cozy man cave in the attic, for example) can be great for items like furniture, journals, books, and those bulkier possessions.

Angeles

There’s nothing more frustrating than walking into an old home filled with the smell of stale mustiness mixed with mildew and dampness – especially if you’re looking at making this place into your dream house one day! A mold inspection is a fairly straightforward procedure, but it’s important that you know what to expect. Mold inspectors will start by asking questions about the history of your home and whether or not you have any health issues. After this, they’ll get on their hands and knees to inspect the crawl space for any indications of water damage. If there are no signs of water damage near the foundation, then they’ll head upstairs to do a visual inspection. This includes checking behind outlets or sinks in case there is hidden mold growth inside these locations.

Apply your protective gear and make sure the area is well-ventilated. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, go over the spots a few times with the soft brush attachment. The best thing you can do in your home is stop mold before it starts. The key to prevention is keeping the rooms in your house dry and cool. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves staring at those stubborn spots.

You can sue your landlord for mold in California if you can prove that your landlord breached his or her duty to protect your health and safety and violated the rental agreement. You could potentially collect damages for medical bills, lost wages, loss of property value, and pain and suffering. A lawsuit could be successful if a landlord failed to take the proper steps to protect tenants from potentially harmful mold spores, which contaminated a tenant’s food products. All of that moisture creates a perfect environment for mold growth, leading to health risks and costly repairs.

Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. When it is Time for you to get a mold inspection, Los Angeles and the surrounding areas get the same 5 star treatment. We are here to help and are more than happy to answer all of your questions and address your concerns about mold. All of our inspectors are polite, respectful and show up on time with a smile.

If the ventilation systems in your rental home are not functioning properly, it is the tenant’s responsibility to ask the landlord for repairs. This means that landlords must keep their properties safe from dangers such as mold or other potentially hazardous conditions. Indoor mold occurs in buildings where moisture is present for extended periods including homes, schools, commercial buildings, and office spaces. If the landlord can’t fix the mold problem, then they should release you from your rental agreement. If all evidence points toward the tenant being forced out by their health then most states will rule in favor of releasing them from their rental agreement. The law requires landlords and tenants to work together and cooperate to get problems fixed.

Once you have identified the source of the mold, it’s time to take further action. One way to determine your mold exposure risk is with a simple at-home mold test kit. The mold detection process starts locally within your immediate environment, usually with mold growing behind or beneath cabinets, under the sink, or in a bathroom. Toxins in your system from inhaling mold spores contribute to your overall toxicity level. Alternatively, tenants can stay in the rental and sue the landlord for damages, which would be the difference between the stated rent and the rental’s worth due to its deplorable condition.

Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced. Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional. This [guidance] provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.