It is the responsibility of your landlord to provide you and your family with a clean place to live. While mold is not necessarily dangerous, it is unsettling to look at and, for some people, it can definitely trigger allergy symptoms. There is a point in which mold can cause damage to a buildings structure and a person’s belongings that have come in contact with mold. For these reasons and some others, you should immediately contact your landlord or property management company if you discover mold in your apartment. And, then you should contact a reputable company who specializes in mold cleanup. Here are some steps you should take if you discover mold contamination in your apartment:
- Contact your landlord
- Provide your landlord or property management company with pictures of the mold infestation.
- Make yourself available when the mold mitigation company arrives
- Make sure an air quality test is performed at your apartment to ensure mold spores aren’t in other areas of the space
- Once the tests are performed, the mold remediation company can begin the mold remediation process
Unfortunately, some landlords may not be as cooperative as they should be. If your landlord ignores you or refuses to take responsibility for the mold remediation process, there is a specific way you should handle the situation. Here are some things you can do if your landlord or property management company won’t take action:
- The first thing you need to do is contact an attorney. An attorney can tell you the best way to proceed as well as let you know what your legal rights may be.
- After you contact an attorney, make copies of everything. Make sure you’ve made copies of written notices, photos and any receipts for costs you’ve incurred trying to resolve the mold issue on your own.
- Next, call a company and schedule an indoor air-quality test. You will need these results to prove that the conditions in your apartment or home are a threat to you and your families’ health.
- Lastly, if necessary, file a lawsuit. If you do this and win, you may receive some type of settlement for your damages which could include reimbursement for your attorney fees and any tests or remediation services you’ve paid for, a reduction in rent and possibly other costs determined by the court.
If you have signs of mold in your apartment or rental property, your landlord is the responsible party for mold cleanup. He or she should contact a professional mold remediation company such as The Jones Companies in Jacksonville/Onslow County and surrounding areas.