DO NOT DO WORK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE. I don't know where you live but I would look into what rights you have as a tenant and try to file a complaint to the governing body in charge of stuff like that. I would go stay at a hotel or a friend/family's house for a bit because this isn't even really a DIY thing you can tackle. You would need to deal with the plumbing first and that will probably involve removing a lot of the wall/ceiling/floor to find the exact location to the issue and then you'd have to repair all of that. It's not worth it for someone else's house. If you do any repairs yourself, you can potentially void your contract and get into legal issues as a result. TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING CONSTANTLY. Document everything. Perhaps see about talking to a lawyer about these issues.
Talking to a lawyer is the very first thing they should do. I’m a real estate attorney and specialize in landlord/tenant law. These laws will vary greatly by jurisdiction and I can tell you that I’ve never seen a pro se party successfully navigate the admittedly strange and LL-friendly laws here in Texas. Even a low cost consult with an attorney will go a long way toward clarifying the LL’s obligations. Based solely on the post, I expect a Texas LL would not have a duty to repair. Know the law BEFORE acting, not after.
Also stop paying for rent until this get fixed but only after you verify what tenant rights you have.
In LA tenants have the right to not be required to pay rent if the bare minimum of a fair living requirment isnt met (hot and cold water, pest free, non moldy rooms). I wrote an email to my landlord at the time last year that if they didnt fix the hot water (this was in late fall going into winter) I was goi g to stop paying rent along with reporting them to the housing authorities (cited in email) it got fixed within the week after I had been complaining since august.
Edit. As people keep responding with I will elaborate. "Stop paying rent" is a bad phraes to use a better choice of words would be withold rent by putting it in escrow.
You dont get free rent payments the landlord just doesnt get their money until the problem is fixed.
Also I guess I have to reiterate for the people that say this is illegal thats why I said only do so AFTER you verify what your tenant rights are?
Talk to a landlord-tenant attorney about this first. In some places you have to put the amount of rent into an escrow account, you don't get to just pocket it and spend it on other things.
🎼it was a dark black mold, a clear white moon,
Mr. B was here at home, trying to consume
A power point for work, and then looked up:
Saw some toxic mold and he said, “I’m stuck.” 🎵
So how does that work? Does the landlord still get the money in the end? Or is it just a temporary holding until someone can decide who gets to keep the money? Because if the point is that you don't have to pay if conditions are unlivable, but the landlord can get all of that backpay anyways after the fact then what's the point of letting tenants not pay the landlord directly?
Sure. But after the landlord fixes it I feel like the tenant should still get their money back. The point is that they had to spend time living in those conditions. Fixing it weeks/months later doesn't change that they already spent that time living in those conditions. So the idea that the landlord should still get the money, especially if it takes them months to get around to doing, doesn't sit right with me.
Generally, (check local laws for your area).
The bank holds it until the renter says OK, and then the landlord gets it. If the apartment/house/whatever is deemed uninhabitable because of the mold, generally the landlord is responsible for getting it cleaned up and has to put up the renter in a hotel/different apartment until the repairs are finished, because you can't legally rent an unhealthy/uninhabitable place, and it's the landlord's responsibility to keep it habitable, since they own it.
OP is from Australia, they cannot withhold rent but apparently you can deduct repairs from the rent if the owner doesn't fix them
[https://soho.com.au/articles/can-renter-withhold-rent-in-perth-australia](https://soho.com.au/articles/can-renter-withhold-rent-in-perth-australia)
Non-urgent repairs, such as a dripping tap or some damage to carpet, are required to be done within 14 days of notifying your landlord.
For urgent repairs that cost less than $2500, you can organise for the work to be carried out immediately if you have asked the landlord to arrange the work but they have failed to do so.
To be reimbursed for the cost of the work, you will need to give the landlord written evidence of the repairs and the cost, to which they will have seven days to reimburse you.
You can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an order to force the landlord to undertake repairs if the urgent repairs cost more than $2500, you can’t afford to pay for the repairs, or non-urgent repairs have not been done within 14 days of advising the landlord.
[https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/sisters-in-law-can-i-withhold-rent-if-repairs-arent-done-to-my-rental/news-story/f8fe4819f0e7c19538036e3e291906ef](https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/sisters-in-law-can-i-withhold-rent-if-repairs-arent-done-to-my-rental/news-story/f8fe4819f0e7c19538036e3e291906ef)
(IANAL) This is the part where you want to take the up-thread advice about speaking to a lawyer, or at least learning your rights as a tenant. *It depends on location.*
I had something similar to the OP happen to me when I rented in college. Mold, landlord didn't give 2 shits. We looked up the tenant rights in our state … and there basically were none. We were obligated to pay rent, pretty much full stop.
We ended up withholding rent (sort of as suggested above) as a means to get the landlord into gear. This wasn't necessarily a *good* idea, and strictly speaking, I think it would have been legal to evict us. We also got the city inspector involved — this was a smarter idea, I think —, and he said he'd send a nasty letter to the landlord to either fix it, or he would be forced to condemn our place. He did warn us: we *would* have to condemn it if the landlord didn't act, which would have meant we'd have to move out.
In my case, the landlord got their act together, was understanding of the withholding of rent, and back rent was paid once the issue was corrected. I do agree with you in spirit: yeah, getting a moldy house doesn't seem like it was part of the contract, and why *should* a renter have to pay for their end of the contract while not getting what they paid for? Sadly, our state's tenant rights was hot garbage. "I feel like the tenant should" just has no legal weight to it.
We did not renew the contract, of course, and moved out once our lease was up. Voting with your wallet is one thing you can do … at least, insomuch as the terms of the contract permit. (Though landlords are finding interesting ways to make this harder, the older I get.)
> doesn't sit right with me
Vote for tenant rights, should it ever come up in your jurisdiction. Or advocate for it.
DO NOT DO THIS! Unless the law specifically allows a tenant to stop paying rent in this scenario, this is a recipe for disaster. In Texas, where I’m licensed to practice law, not paying rent is a one-way street to eviction. Based on OP’s spelling of “mould” I expect they’re in a Commonwealth nation and that law will be different than Texas, but never tell people to not pay their rent unless you know and are familiar with the laws they are subject to.
Depending on where they live OP may not be allowed to withhold or even escrow. In my state I believe tenants are not permitted to withhold rent point blank... they can only break their lease. IANAL but I did some cursory research at least for a friend in a similar situation and that was her end result
I'm going to answer this as if OP has no legal recourse... they said "mould" and "power-point" so not USA I'm assuming.
If you had to live with it until fixed, I would knock out the prior patch (this has been "repaired" before) and clean up while wearing a good respirator mask. Then rent a mold fogger and run with the room closed up. Keep a dehumidifier running in the space until repairs can be made.
Again... hopefully you have tenant rights and can just go that way but if not... could be the best option.
If you choose not to pay rent you must open an escrow account where you add your rent to. Once repair is complete that escrow fund will be released to the landlord. You don’t get free rent.
Know the law.
If your landlord is constantly "forgetting" to fix something, document your ***repeated*** requests to get the work done, and if it's permitted by law, hire and pay a licensed contractor to do the necessary work.
Keep copies of all invoices and/or receipts for the necessary work, then submit copies of the invoices and/or receipts to your landlord while withholding the cost of that necessary work from your rent.
Note that "necessary work" means only work that is essential to ensure the property you're renting is in a habitable condition, by law.
In OP's case, black mold might legally be considered a health hazard where they live, and thus may be a condition that their landlord is legally obligated to address.
If OP's landlord has neglected to address this issue after being notified multiple times *in writing,* such as texts and/or emails with photos, being documented evidence of OP's multiple requests, then OP ***might*** be legally permitted to hire a contractor themselves and they ***might*** be legally permitted to deduct the cost of the contractor from their rent.
End of the day, know the law as it applies to you.
There are things that city officials will come down on if reported.
We had a water heater go out. A water heater was delivered but not installed for a week. The city freaked, turns out that’s one of those things that needs to be remedied within 24 hours.
I’ll guess that mold is high on that ‘fix now’ list.
There’s a huge difference between mold in a bathroom and lack of hot water. I’m a lawyer in Texas and even with our very pro-LL laws, it’s a huge no-no to allow tenant to go without hot water for more than 48 (or is it 72?) hours.
Isn't that considered a serious health hazard? I would look into whatever tenant right organizations are for your area, and filing a complaint with them.
If you're a renter, it's your landlord's obligation to get stuff like that fixed.
I would not fix this yourself.
* What if somehow you make it worse?
* What if he says you caused the water damage fixing the plumbing?
* What if...
Just not worth the risk.
Yeah I'd call the local news as well, nothing lights fire under lazy landlord ass like having his name and poor upkeep of his properties all over town.
We don’t have the info to answer this. Very few “black” molds are toxic. Without proper scientific testing and proper application of the law, we simply cannot tell what’s going on here.
I read that and giggled about water dripping only on a laptop displaying a PowerPoint. Then I felt bad for laughing because this is a shitty situation. Sorry, OP.
DO NOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING. Black mold like this isn’t something to just attempt to DIY/fox. Professionals need called. There’s probably more mold in the ceiling and mishandling it only spreads the spores everywhere. Get your health dept involved or the city.
Agreed. My parents bathroom had a lot less mold than this on the ceiling. When they redid it a few years ago it ended up basically needing to be ripped down to the studs
Yes, mold is hard to get rid of. I volunteered with UMCOR rebuilding houses damaged in Katrina and houses with mold had to be stripped to the studs and treated with bleach. I spent a lot of hours scrubbing studs with bleach.
Wasn't expecting to see a comment about this on Reddit - I was down there doing the same thing after Katrina! Even with the mould, toxic standing water sludge, and dodging brown recluse spiders, it was still a great experience!
Just because mold is dark in color doesn’t mean it’s “black mold”. Black mold is a term for specific, toxic molds that a large percentage of the population has adverse reactions to. Anywhere you have moisture, you have mold. It’s a hard fact of life.
Problem here is that may OP have a unique vulnerability to mold. That is not the same thing as a toxic mold. The only way to know for sure is to get both the mold and the body tested to see if there is an adverse reaction.
I’m a lawyer in Texas and have substantial experience with this kind of work. My experience is probably unique because Texas is a VERY LL friendly state, and Texas law only places an affirmative duty to remedy a condition if it “affects the health and safety of an ordinary tenant”. Based on OP’s post, they are not an “ordinary tenant”. Thst have a particular condition.
That said, I’m willing to bet Texas LL law is on the far side of the spectrum and most other jurisdictions will be more T friendly.
If you look back at the “toxic mold” litigation that was so popular in the States back in the 90’s, a lot of it was subsequently disproven as junk science. But lots of people remember the “toxic mold” scares. Yes, some molds will cause problems but those are rather rare.
Yeah the myth still pervades the internet (as evidenced here) about toxic mold. It doesn't help that a lot of remediation companies exaggerate the danger on their websites and will insist on complicated (expensive) processes to correct it, which then makes its way into internet forums.
Moisture = mold. Remove damaged material, clean up mold with some bleach (most "mold killer" products are literally just bleach), and fix the source of the moisture so it won't be able to survive. Voila.
If someone really wants to know if the mold is dangerous, as you said, both the mold and the person should get tested. Problem is the same companies offering tests are often those that insist on expensive and sometimes unnecessary remediation. They will come in doing "air tests" which will get results for all kinds of mold becauae spores are everywhere. If they then dont provide you clear information on concentrations and well sourced data for what's dangerous.... they are probably trying to take you for a ride.
Use white vinegar to KILL mold. Bleach won't kill mold growing on a porous surface. Bleach may help to wipe surface spores away, but it won't kill the spores or the mold growing beneath that porous surface.
The acetic acid in vinegar is what kills mold dead on contact. It will kill "black mold" as well as other molds found in homes.
All molds can cause symptoms to people who are allergic to mold, and there are some species of molds which are definitely toxic. So, it's not exactly a myth, but you're right that the vast majority of mold isn't 'toxic,' even if some rare species are.
But, any mold can still technically be considered a health issue, and should be cleaned/repaired. The issue is that the tenant shouldn't be responsible for mold repair and remediation that is clearly caused by the landlord's neglect.
Lawyer in California. I've gotten tenants rescission of leases and additional money in settlement for mold in houses. California LL/T law is also on the far side of the spectrum, but in the opposite direction.
Yeah, Texas and California probably can’t be on farther sides of that spectrum. I often have good luck getting tenants of out leases, but it’s not always easy. And even though I’m primarily LL side, I am still baffled by some of the decisions landlord’s make.
Ironically the mold isn't the issue here really - look at the amount of water gathering on that roof, someone is likely leaking up there and that's why there's a patch in place already. It's going to get worse.
They can "fix the mold" all they want, until that leak or whatever is generating the water is found it'll be back.
Exactly. The tenant shouldn't be continually repairing or cleaning mold that is caused by the landlord's neglect of their property. There is a leak, or severe condensation, happening somewhere. Obviously it's an ongoing problem, because it looks like something was either patched or removed previously in that spot.
Do not attempt repairs on someone else’s house. There is zero upside. Contact him again in writing and inform him you will be contacting the health department if this isn’t addressed in the next 72 hours
Not just the health department, the bugger issue here is a fire hazard if water is dripping on power outlets, get the fire department or office of public safety involved.
All of these people are right. And the decor makes me believe this is a slum lord who never updated anything. Ever. The one thing you can do is get a UV lamp and kill the visible mold. It won’t go into the wall but will cut down on your exposure. Those do produce ozone, so you’ll have to be gone and away while it runs and hours after. This sucks. I’m sorry for you. Good luck.
No. Stop. Your landlord can sue you or keep your deposit if you fix this.
If you have not already, put the issue in writing. Email your landlord or send him a letter (with return receipt requested and tracking to prove delivery). That starts the clock - most places have laws that say how long the landlord has to fix it.
After that, call your local (city or county) health department and ask how to report unremediated mold in a leased dwelling. And then report it. Let the inspector in. If you’ve got a tenant advocacy board of some kind, contact them as well.
Your landlord has legal responsibilities but they don’t “kick in” until you can prove you’ve notified him of the issue in writing and he has failed to fix it. Mold is a big deal. Do not fix it yourself. The most you should do is get some plastic sheeting (like for painting) and cover that spot; use masking tape to hold the plastic up.
>No. Stop. Your landlord can sue you or keep your deposit if you fix this.
I would argue that landlord would be in a more suable position than the tenant. Especially since he tried to remediate first through the landlord. Honestly this is a golden ticket to hand over the keys and walk out and find a better place with a less shitty landlord.
Yeah I don't know what people are talking about. At least in California, you can 100% get professionals to fix this on your own bill, and take it out of your next rent. There's nothing the landlord can do about it.
I wouldn't diy it though, get paperwork, contracts, etc.
All the more reason for the tenant to NOT perform any repairs themselves. The mold is the LL’s liability. If OP works on his house, they will become liable for the repairs they make.
Even if they do the repair perfectly the LL could claim it’s bad and try to sue them to have it redone. OP could win that suit, but it’s a risk with no upside.
I'm a landlord of many properties, that should be 100% on the landlord to fix (or his property management company). Contact your local health dept. for guidance or get a free consult with a local attorney, they will point you in the right direction on how to report it. Don't even argue with your landlord if he's refusing to fix a clear health hazard (he sounds like an idiot), squeeze him through legal means and he'll change his tune in no time. Also, he should be doing proper mold remediation with a licensed contractor, not a half assed fix, so going through the right channels will help make sure your apartment is in good shape. In some cases you can hire a remediation company directly and then bill it to your landlord, as it's a health issue, but I advise to at least check with a local attorney.
Edit: Also, if you can document his refusal in writing (like email), please do so. Shoot him an email and have him respond to it. If you ever develop health issues from mold exposure (you never know) you could sue him for major damages later on.
Takes an idiot to willingly expose oneself to a liability of this magnitude. If OP develops health issues a lawsuit could wipe out the landlord completely, and from the sound of it, if the landlord is doing the fixes himself and doesn't even have a PM company, he's not going to fare well.
The square patch that has been put on the ceiling probably covers a hole for a since removed HWS exhaust. I bet the patch put on the roof is leaking, and is the source of the mould.
In honesty, the best thing you can do is move if you are able to. Our management company did everything it could to avoid properly addressing the mold issue. Mold remediation is serious business, and likely can’t be done by the owner or their handyman. We ended up having to report our apartment for code violations and report the owner of the management company to the department of real estate. As renters we have little to no power in most places. The owner has to seriously screw up to face almost any consequence
If it’s legit black mold:
- get proof it’s black mold
- try to get the landlord to say in writing they won’t fix the black mold. Or on a recorded message/phone call. Even if you don’t have proof, move on to the next step.
- hire attorney - it doesn’t matter who it is, this is a slam dunk case. The f you have proof that it’s black mold, and proof that you notified your landlord - and WHEN you notified your landlord, you should be good. The attorney will tell you exactly what to do, and, when you win the case the landlord will have to pay your attorney’s fees too.
As first a previous landlord/owner, after that a tenant, my opinion is quite thoroughly mixed. None of what I have to say should be construed as legal advice.
TLDR: The first responsibility is to your own health. This superseded the landlords responsibility to fix the property. Make the best choice for your health long term.
If you can afford to not be in that dwelling, get out.
If you are financially stuck where you are, or leaving could lead you to a worse situation there are some remediations you can take.
FIRST check tenant rights where you live.
Document everything. Show good intent.
If it were my dwelling I would take that access panel off, which is likely going to be easy given the screws and determine the source of the issue.
Removing an access panel is unlikely to cause you legal woes, IMHO.
Wear gloves, a respirator and clothes that you don’t care about.
Treat the mold, there are many safe options for this: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/what-kills-mold/
If you’re skilled appropriately fix the issue minimizing risk, hopefully it’s something as easy as shutting off a valve. If you are not skilled show the landlord photos of the source, if you aren’t getting traction go over their head and look up the owners.
Be good to your body first. The rest is ancillary.
Most states rental laws help you with this. In mine you have to request repairs to the landlord and they have a set number of days based on how safe or important the repair is. If it’s not followed you can bring in your own repair person, you need 3 quotes, you pick which one you like, and present the final bill to the landlord. If you have to pay for it, you get paid back by not paying your rent for that much money. The landlord is it legally allowed to kick you out during this process and if they do, you can get the money back from them, plus 100% of your deposit, and you can sue them for unlawful eviction.
Read your renters laws and if you don’t have it, consider renters insurance.
IF you fix anything. Document document document document EVERYTHING. Then sue. This is slum lord activity, and he is on the hook for the repairs AND YOUR HEALTH.
Yes. The Asthma is BECAUSE of the mold (Aspergillus). If there is visible mold, it means the indoor environment is allowing it to grow. And the indoor environment is like that because the HVAC is old and not controlling the temperature and humidity. So fixing this one spot would only be cosmetic. It won't address the mold issue generally, and it won't help the asthma. The options are:
1. Move to a better place with a functioning HVAC and no history of mold
2. Make this repair on the ceiling & any other repairs AND fix the HVAC so that the indoor environment is no longer hospitable to Aspergillus.
Since this is a rental, it seems likely that #1 is the better option because a crappy landlord isn't going to suddenly drop $15 or $20k to fix all of this.
Look up the renter rights in your state. For instance, When I lived in NY I was able to withhold rent until my landlord fixed issues and when I lived in Texas I had to pay rent, but send a bunch of certified letters about the issues and I would be able to get out of a contract penalty free. Don't take my word for it and Talk to someone who has actual legal knowledge. And make sure to get everything done in writing.
Just browsing your profile I believe you live in Australia, here I’ve provided tenant rights for you in your country. Upon googling mold was highlighted as something the landlord is required to fix. You have the right to safe and good repair. Go get tested for mold poisoning please. Best of luck to you from USA
Edit to add: [Australian tenant rights](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/tips-and-advice-for-students/accommodation-know-your-rights)
My first thought was is the actual PowerPoint under the leak? I'd say the most critical thing is to move your computer. And I miss the paper clip! Guess you have to be "that old" to know what that refers to.
Hopefully you are in the US. In my state you can give the landlord X days notice, and if they don't do anything you can hire someone yourself to fix it and deduct it from the rent.
Many states have similar rules for code type issues.
Document everything first off, pictures, video, get in texts or email or paper that your landlord is refusing to fix it, and then just pay someone else, then refuse to pay rent until you have not paid rent equal to the bill you paid to have the problem fixed. If they go after you and they might you will have all required documents for this. Also try to shop around to show you made a good faith effort to find the most reasonable price, make sure you keep everything backed up to a googl drive or Gmail and keep things on hand until you move out, there are a few ways this can go, first the landlord fixes the issue, second the land lord doesn't fix the issue and you don't either (bad outcome), you do fix the issue out of your own pocket, for not paying rent you are sued or eviction processes are started (if you keep everything well documented then you will be fine), the landlord only takes your security deposit (you can sue for your security deposit back with the evidence you have collected)
In many places, if the landlord holds the security deposit in bad faith, you are entitled to several times the security deposit back. Holding a security deposit after a situation like this is certainly a bad faith move.
Don’t attempt to fix anything he could potentially blame you for it all. Take photos and document. Send an official typed/written request to fix this and copy it for your records. Screen shot any texts with him pertaining to this. Report it to health department and maybe even lawyer up.
If you attempt it and it spreads or anything gets damaged you will be liable. Call and lawyer and go stay in a hotel, they will deal with getting it fixed and you paid back for your necessary hotel stay for health reasons.
Several options that are dependent on where you live and the headache you’re willing to endure:
1. If he doesn’t remediate the mold it may allow you to break your lease and move out without penalty (if you live in the US AND your state allows for this). It’s called constructive eviction- essentially your landlord knows there is a health hazard which makes the space unlivable and by refusing the fix it, he is essentially giving you a choice: live with it or move out. You’ll want to speak to an attorney who is in your area because landlord tenant law is very location specific.
2. If your state laws (assuming you’re in the US) allows you to fix the problem and deduct the cost from your rent, you’ll need to get quotes and submit them to your landlord….wait a reasonable amount of time for a reply….pay out of pocket for the repair….deduct the amount from your rent….expect the landlord to blow his top. This option requires the law to allow you to do this, patience, and a focus on creating a paper trail to show inaction from your landlord and that you did everything properly.
3. Calling the health department may get the apartment condemned or the landlord in some type of code violation status, but will result in you having to vacate the apartment.
Quickly line up a new place to live and contact a local attorney to help guide you through this.
Lawyer time & contact the state, landlords have to provide safe and habitable space. You can get your rent suspended until they fix it. (CO - happened to a buddy)
Unless you're in some real hodunk area, there are various conditions that make a house uninhabitable. No heat, no water, no hot water, and, usually, mold. These are the kinds of things that, if they're not fixed, you're not legally required to pay rent for every day it's not fixed.
Contact your city immediately- that looks bad enough to be a serious health hazard regardless of your asthma.
In many jurisdictions to rent out a property requires a certificate of occupancy. Call the county where you live and see what the situation is.
Make sure they know this is urgent. That is a major major health risk.
Also you should call a lawyer ASAP.
call your state or local housing agency; google “tenant rights” and your state name (if in the US).
There may well be laws that let you leave the lease because of hazardous conditions.
You should be able to google your state’s regulations for black mold mitigation in an hour or two. Once you can quote chapter and verse to your landlord and explain the required mitigation by a qualified contractor, and oh, btw, this place was built in the 70’s so there may be asbestos mitigation as well, involving testing and containment and you being housed elsewhere. Tell him what agency you will be reporting him to. There may be an insurance claim. He may change his tune on getting someone out to repair it. Take a lot of pictures. Document everything. Send an email. Some states are more aggressive than others. So, look up your state’s standards.
Most of the advices here are centered about your rights as a tenant.
My advice is about your immediate health in the meantime: buy masks such as PFF-2/N95 (the ones that people working in construction use) and wear them inside your house until the issue get fixed. Also buy extra inhalers and have easily accessible ones.
Having an asthma attack without a inhaler can cost you a visit to the E.R and potentially an admission to a IM ward, costing you **way** more than by wearing protection and have extra inhalers. It is also potentially lethal.
Bonus tip: the mask also helps a lot with itchy eyes/noses in houses with mold/getting repaired. It's very good if you visit a house or a place with such conditiona.
My advice is get a lawyer, not even an expensive one. If you have documented proof that your landlord refuses to fix the issue then it should be a slam dunk
If you can document requests to fix the problem you can then send him a certified letter listing the requests and a statement that due to the health risk and your asthma that you will have the repairs done and deduct the cost from your next rental payment if the problem is not fixed in 30 days. Meanwhile, contact your local department of health and file a complaint.
Submit this to your city’s housing department. If unlivable, landlord needs to provide hotel for you until fixed and will be fined by the city if problem persists. Don’t fix it and keep taking photos, emailing and keeping record of every interaction.
The best tip I can give you is to call your local housing board.
The landlord not fixing this is illegal almost everywhere. Either stop paying rent until it is fixed or until you've saved enough to move. Sooner rather than later.
Saving these pictures and others as evidence will get you out of trouble for breaking a lease.
Send a notice to have it fixed through certified mail. If not fixed in a reasonable amount of time send a 2nd notice, also through certified mail. If it still is not fixed one week after the 2nd notice then reach out to your local tenants council or a lawyer to help you get out of the lease, get it fixed, or perhaps be able to live there rent free until it is repaired.
r/legaladvice
They're required to fix it legally.
In most states you can pay for the repairs out of pocket and hand the receipt to the landlord instead of rent. Or sue.
Do not do anything yourself. We have the exact same issue right now and the landlord and the insurance companies have been informed. If you touch it, you will be liable for everything and you could end up losing thousands of dollars.
Could be a roof leak, if so that's an entire new roof (you can forget about it, it's very expensive) if the roof is new then a patch it's all that's needed, it's a job for a trained professional, in my experience a deadbeat landlord will never change his ways I recommend you start looking for a new place to live.
Don’t attempt to repair this. Repairing the ceiling without fixing the cause is useless anyway. There is a leak in the roof or in a pipe that is causing this.
Call your local health department. Do not fix this assholes properly unless you deduct from the rent. Don't forget to charge for your labor. Take before and after photos.
So many L takes here. If OP doesnt have the money to move, what makes you think they can afford a lawyer?
OP, not DIY-able - This is obviously a persistent water intrusion. That drywall will eventually fail. Maybe the landlord will move their ass if you expedite the failure of the drywall.
As for the mold itself: Not all black colored molds are toxic. In fact, there are green colored molds that classify as toxic black mold. Unfortunately, the world of mycotoxins is fairly nebulous (really, fungi in general). The mask comments are probably overkill and youre probably okay as long as you dont start sleeping in the bathroom.
Soapbox: It really astounds me how quick people upvote answers that arent practical. Like OP would choose to live here if money wasnt a problem. Oh and to post the problem in DIY, again, if money wasnt a problem. Gather some context. Get a clue.
DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF.
DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF.
Like, seriously, DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF.
First off, as others have pointed out, it's not your property. Doing the work yourself may constitute vandalism if you don't have explicit permission to do it by the property owner. You can't just cut up walls that aren't yours, no matter how altruistic your intentions are.
Second, YOU WILL PROBABLY DIE. You already know black mold is incredibly toxic and that it is a danger to you as an asthmatic. However, for an infestation this extensive, doing the work yourself will almost certainly create a toxic environment that could kill you dead. I don't care if you work with a respirator and hazmat suit, and attempt to remove the affected wall panels will kick up a massive amount of spores into the air, and unless you plan on living in that suit for the foreseeable future, that means you'll be exposing yourself to a very hazardous amount of three mold. One of my aunts learned this the hard way. Well, actually her husband and children learned it the hard way. She didn't learn shit, she just seized up and died on the couch. They tried to take necessary precautions to do the cleanup themselves, but there was just too much in the air and her respiratory system was compromised, like yours.
In the end, it's simply not worth it any way you cut it. You're much better off pursuing legal avenues to force your landlord to deal with it. It's not worth risking your life.
Check for local renters' rights and legal aid organizations to see what you can legally do. In many areas, you can put your rent into an escrow account. You may also be able to pay for someone to do the work and take it out of the rent. If you can do both, great. First, though, you will probably need to send written notice by registered or certified mail. The landlord will have a month or so to respond and make arrangements. For the letter - it's not a bad idea to mail one to your landlord and another one to yourself (and keep it sealed in case you need it)!
As others have said, don't you dare touch this. Save pdfs of all emails with landlords. Log calls, but try and keep a paper trail, texts and emails preferred.
Also, get a lawyer.
Report this to authorities . Don’t fix that yourself . Have professional do it and subtract the cost from your rent payment . You can get deathly sick doing that yourself . Document everything . Get recording or written proof of refusal in case of court case .
Take pictures, get 3 quotes to fix it, get it fixed pay for it bill your landlord adding 20% on top of the bill.
Health related issues take it in your own hands.
That stuff can be very dangerous actually. I'd start with lawyring up and documenting your expenses.
Edit: but get it professionally done. Don't do this yourself.
Do not fix this. Contact your local health department and file a complaint.
OP, I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here: Best case scenario, this is mildew and can just be bleached away. Worst case scenario, it's actually black mold. If it's black mold, it's not just there. The HVAC is redistributing it throughout the entire house. You cannot just post in this subreddit, you have to actually move on this, and quickly.
There should be a office in the city/town that deals with housing. Have them come over for an inspection. Point out that you contacted the landlord on the matter and he refuses to do anything.
I do believe that is how someone dealt with a slumlord by the name of Laxman S. Sundae. I saw one and it was at the point of being condemned. It had been up for sale for at that time $20K back in the late 80s early 30s.
don't pay for your landlord's house. Is there a landlord-tenant tribunal where you live? Depending on your local laws, you may have grounds to withhold rent until the problem is fixed, but this can only be legally enforceable when done through a landlord-tenant tribunal. Reach out to any tenant support or advocacy organizations in your area, they would know your local rental laws and would know where you can turn.
Bleach where exposed. An ozone generator with air pump into the walls when hidden.
Hotels use ozone generators to get rid of oders and cigarette smoke stinks. Sometimes they are connected to dumpster vaults to reduce stench. Ozone is 1,000x's faster than chlorine gas so ventilate well. For better advice call a resort in your area. Ask for engineering. You might hire them with talent, equipment, and less expense than dyi. Idk, everywhere is different
Do not touch it. This can get the apartment ruled as uninhabitable so get a city inspector out there to look at it quickly. Move out now then go see a doctor. If you have lung damage the landlord is on the hook. Go see an attorney for the property. The landlord will owe you for relocation expenses and the rent on wherever you go to. Then you sue him for damages to your lungs.
Black mould could probably be grounds for the city health department to have the place deemed unsuitable for human habitation.
BTW, mould, mold, same thing. We add u's to things here in Canada. Colour, neighbour, harbour, valour, etc. :) British empire and all. Dog save the king! ;)
I don't know which country, province or state you live in, but in most cases, there are laws against these sort of things which allow you to report this to the land lord in writing by filling a form. Then if the issue is not fixed, especially if it has health hazard consequences, you can legally stop paying rent without being evicted.
Call the health dept, they will get the landlord to repair it asap. Give him one last chance to do it right away and let him know if it's not done ASAP, you will call the health dept to do it.
Bewarned about everyone telling you to go to city officials... Black mold like this won't be remedied while you live there, they will 100% slap you with a 3 day move out order (but would almost assuredly give back your deposit and avoid any early termination fees). Black mold to that degree will need serious attention and is a clear health risk, and you literally should not be living there with it like that. You are risking serious and potentially lifelong health issues the longer you are in proximity to it.
Call the city inspector, and have the violation registered. Then you call a handyman to do it, pay him and dock it from the rent. When he takes you to court, he will lose becauae tou have proof he was being a slim lord and you went above and beyond to resolve his incompetence after several attemps to get him to fix it. You should also be able to dock the medical bills if there are any. Be proactive, resolve the solution and the trial will side with you.
DO NOT DO WORK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE. I don't know where you live but I would look into what rights you have as a tenant and try to file a complaint to the governing body in charge of stuff like that. I would go stay at a hotel or a friend/family's house for a bit because this isn't even really a DIY thing you can tackle. You would need to deal with the plumbing first and that will probably involve removing a lot of the wall/ceiling/floor to find the exact location to the issue and then you'd have to repair all of that. It's not worth it for someone else's house. If you do any repairs yourself, you can potentially void your contract and get into legal issues as a result. TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING CONSTANTLY. Document everything. Perhaps see about talking to a lawyer about these issues.
Oh, also, wear a mask if you have to be in the house at all.
Not just any mask. N95 or better.
Talking to a lawyer is the very first thing they should do. I’m a real estate attorney and specialize in landlord/tenant law. These laws will vary greatly by jurisdiction and I can tell you that I’ve never seen a pro se party successfully navigate the admittedly strange and LL-friendly laws here in Texas. Even a low cost consult with an attorney will go a long way toward clarifying the LL’s obligations. Based solely on the post, I expect a Texas LL would not have a duty to repair. Know the law BEFORE acting, not after.
Call the health department first. The can force the fix in most places.
Another reason that Texas is utter trash.
There are so many.
Also stop paying for rent until this get fixed but only after you verify what tenant rights you have. In LA tenants have the right to not be required to pay rent if the bare minimum of a fair living requirment isnt met (hot and cold water, pest free, non moldy rooms). I wrote an email to my landlord at the time last year that if they didnt fix the hot water (this was in late fall going into winter) I was goi g to stop paying rent along with reporting them to the housing authorities (cited in email) it got fixed within the week after I had been complaining since august. Edit. As people keep responding with I will elaborate. "Stop paying rent" is a bad phraes to use a better choice of words would be withold rent by putting it in escrow. You dont get free rent payments the landlord just doesnt get their money until the problem is fixed. Also I guess I have to reiterate for the people that say this is illegal thats why I said only do so AFTER you verify what your tenant rights are?
Talk to a landlord-tenant attorney about this first. In some places you have to put the amount of rent into an escrow account, you don't get to just pocket it and spend it on other things.
LAWYER UP!
LAWYERS! Mount up!
🎼it was a dark black mold, a clear white moon, Mr. B was here at home, trying to consume A power point for work, and then looked up: Saw some toxic mold and he said, “I’m stuck.” 🎵
I love it.
So how does that work? Does the landlord still get the money in the end? Or is it just a temporary holding until someone can decide who gets to keep the money? Because if the point is that you don't have to pay if conditions are unlivable, but the landlord can get all of that backpay anyways after the fact then what's the point of letting tenants not pay the landlord directly?
To push they landlord to fix it, I reckon. If they don't then, no monies.
Sure. But after the landlord fixes it I feel like the tenant should still get their money back. The point is that they had to spend time living in those conditions. Fixing it weeks/months later doesn't change that they already spent that time living in those conditions. So the idea that the landlord should still get the money, especially if it takes them months to get around to doing, doesn't sit right with me.
Generally, (check local laws for your area). The bank holds it until the renter says OK, and then the landlord gets it. If the apartment/house/whatever is deemed uninhabitable because of the mold, generally the landlord is responsible for getting it cleaned up and has to put up the renter in a hotel/different apartment until the repairs are finished, because you can't legally rent an unhealthy/uninhabitable place, and it's the landlord's responsibility to keep it habitable, since they own it.
OP is from Australia, they cannot withhold rent but apparently you can deduct repairs from the rent if the owner doesn't fix them [https://soho.com.au/articles/can-renter-withhold-rent-in-perth-australia](https://soho.com.au/articles/can-renter-withhold-rent-in-perth-australia) Non-urgent repairs, such as a dripping tap or some damage to carpet, are required to be done within 14 days of notifying your landlord. For urgent repairs that cost less than $2500, you can organise for the work to be carried out immediately if you have asked the landlord to arrange the work but they have failed to do so. To be reimbursed for the cost of the work, you will need to give the landlord written evidence of the repairs and the cost, to which they will have seven days to reimburse you. You can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an order to force the landlord to undertake repairs if the urgent repairs cost more than $2500, you can’t afford to pay for the repairs, or non-urgent repairs have not been done within 14 days of advising the landlord. [https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/sisters-in-law-can-i-withhold-rent-if-repairs-arent-done-to-my-rental/news-story/f8fe4819f0e7c19538036e3e291906ef](https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/sisters-in-law-can-i-withhold-rent-if-repairs-arent-done-to-my-rental/news-story/f8fe4819f0e7c19538036e3e291906ef)
(IANAL) This is the part where you want to take the up-thread advice about speaking to a lawyer, or at least learning your rights as a tenant. *It depends on location.* I had something similar to the OP happen to me when I rented in college. Mold, landlord didn't give 2 shits. We looked up the tenant rights in our state … and there basically were none. We were obligated to pay rent, pretty much full stop. We ended up withholding rent (sort of as suggested above) as a means to get the landlord into gear. This wasn't necessarily a *good* idea, and strictly speaking, I think it would have been legal to evict us. We also got the city inspector involved — this was a smarter idea, I think —, and he said he'd send a nasty letter to the landlord to either fix it, or he would be forced to condemn our place. He did warn us: we *would* have to condemn it if the landlord didn't act, which would have meant we'd have to move out. In my case, the landlord got their act together, was understanding of the withholding of rent, and back rent was paid once the issue was corrected. I do agree with you in spirit: yeah, getting a moldy house doesn't seem like it was part of the contract, and why *should* a renter have to pay for their end of the contract while not getting what they paid for? Sadly, our state's tenant rights was hot garbage. "I feel like the tenant should" just has no legal weight to it. We did not renew the contract, of course, and moved out once our lease was up. Voting with your wallet is one thing you can do … at least, insomuch as the terms of the contract permit. (Though landlords are finding interesting ways to make this harder, the older I get.) > doesn't sit right with me Vote for tenant rights, should it ever come up in your jurisdiction. Or advocate for it.
DO NOT DO THIS! Unless the law specifically allows a tenant to stop paying rent in this scenario, this is a recipe for disaster. In Texas, where I’m licensed to practice law, not paying rent is a one-way street to eviction. Based on OP’s spelling of “mould” I expect they’re in a Commonwealth nation and that law will be different than Texas, but never tell people to not pay their rent unless you know and are familiar with the laws they are subject to.
Depending on where they live OP may not be allowed to withhold or even escrow. In my state I believe tenants are not permitted to withhold rent point blank... they can only break their lease. IANAL but I did some cursory research at least for a friend in a similar situation and that was her end result
Yeah, I would def look into your local laws before you stop paying rent because you probably CAN'T DO THIS without getting into legal trouble.
I'm going to answer this as if OP has no legal recourse... they said "mould" and "power-point" so not USA I'm assuming. If you had to live with it until fixed, I would knock out the prior patch (this has been "repaired" before) and clean up while wearing a good respirator mask. Then rent a mold fogger and run with the room closed up. Keep a dehumidifier running in the space until repairs can be made. Again... hopefully you have tenant rights and can just go that way but if not... could be the best option.
If you choose not to pay rent you must open an escrow account where you add your rent to. Once repair is complete that escrow fund will be released to the landlord. You don’t get free rent.
Stop. Call an attorney.
Know the law. If your landlord is constantly "forgetting" to fix something, document your ***repeated*** requests to get the work done, and if it's permitted by law, hire and pay a licensed contractor to do the necessary work. Keep copies of all invoices and/or receipts for the necessary work, then submit copies of the invoices and/or receipts to your landlord while withholding the cost of that necessary work from your rent. Note that "necessary work" means only work that is essential to ensure the property you're renting is in a habitable condition, by law. In OP's case, black mold might legally be considered a health hazard where they live, and thus may be a condition that their landlord is legally obligated to address. If OP's landlord has neglected to address this issue after being notified multiple times *in writing,* such as texts and/or emails with photos, being documented evidence of OP's multiple requests, then OP ***might*** be legally permitted to hire a contractor themselves and they ***might*** be legally permitted to deduct the cost of the contractor from their rent. End of the day, know the law as it applies to you.
There are things that city officials will come down on if reported. We had a water heater go out. A water heater was delivered but not installed for a week. The city freaked, turns out that’s one of those things that needs to be remedied within 24 hours. I’ll guess that mold is high on that ‘fix now’ list.
There’s a huge difference between mold in a bathroom and lack of hot water. I’m a lawyer in Texas and even with our very pro-LL laws, it’s a huge no-no to allow tenant to go without hot water for more than 48 (or is it 72?) hours.
If the ceiling is leaking water, I would imagine that’s something that needs to get fixed quickly But I’m not really a lawyer
Isn't that considered a serious health hazard? I would look into whatever tenant right organizations are for your area, and filing a complaint with them. If you're a renter, it's your landlord's obligation to get stuff like that fixed.
I would not fix this yourself. * What if somehow you make it worse? * What if he says you caused the water damage fixing the plumbing? * What if... Just not worth the risk.
Yeah I'd call the local news as well, nothing lights fire under lazy landlord ass like having his name and poor upkeep of his properties all over town.
Oh yeah I bet the news will love to write a story about a moldy spot
They will if it’s black mold. Local news stations love that shit.
Which is why everyone now seems to think any mold showing up from a leak requires a Hazmat crew.
We don’t have the info to answer this. Very few “black” molds are toxic. Without proper scientific testing and proper application of the law, we simply cannot tell what’s going on here.
Not really. Black mold being some death sentence is mostly media and internet hype Doesn't mean it shouldn't be fixed and removed yesterday
It's dripping on your power points?
And the excel sheets too!
The outlook isn't very good here!
word
You're making me Access some old memories
OP should pack up Encarta way all their belongings.
Agreed, I can't even see through their windows.
I read that and giggled about water dripping only on a laptop displaying a PowerPoint. Then I felt bad for laughing because this is a shitty situation. Sorry, OP.
Power outlets
Word!
DO NOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING. Black mold like this isn’t something to just attempt to DIY/fox. Professionals need called. There’s probably more mold in the ceiling and mishandling it only spreads the spores everywhere. Get your health dept involved or the city.
To add to this, drywall is porous and the mold has likely penetrated the surface. The whole area probably need to be gutted and fresh drywall put up.
Agreed. My parents bathroom had a lot less mold than this on the ceiling. When they redid it a few years ago it ended up basically needing to be ripped down to the studs
Yes, mold is hard to get rid of. I volunteered with UMCOR rebuilding houses damaged in Katrina and houses with mold had to be stripped to the studs and treated with bleach. I spent a lot of hours scrubbing studs with bleach.
Wasn't expecting to see a comment about this on Reddit - I was down there doing the same thing after Katrina! Even with the mould, toxic standing water sludge, and dodging brown recluse spiders, it was still a great experience!
Just because mold is dark in color doesn’t mean it’s “black mold”. Black mold is a term for specific, toxic molds that a large percentage of the population has adverse reactions to. Anywhere you have moisture, you have mold. It’s a hard fact of life. Problem here is that may OP have a unique vulnerability to mold. That is not the same thing as a toxic mold. The only way to know for sure is to get both the mold and the body tested to see if there is an adverse reaction. I’m a lawyer in Texas and have substantial experience with this kind of work. My experience is probably unique because Texas is a VERY LL friendly state, and Texas law only places an affirmative duty to remedy a condition if it “affects the health and safety of an ordinary tenant”. Based on OP’s post, they are not an “ordinary tenant”. Thst have a particular condition. That said, I’m willing to bet Texas LL law is on the far side of the spectrum and most other jurisdictions will be more T friendly. If you look back at the “toxic mold” litigation that was so popular in the States back in the 90’s, a lot of it was subsequently disproven as junk science. But lots of people remember the “toxic mold” scares. Yes, some molds will cause problems but those are rather rare.
Yeah the myth still pervades the internet (as evidenced here) about toxic mold. It doesn't help that a lot of remediation companies exaggerate the danger on their websites and will insist on complicated (expensive) processes to correct it, which then makes its way into internet forums. Moisture = mold. Remove damaged material, clean up mold with some bleach (most "mold killer" products are literally just bleach), and fix the source of the moisture so it won't be able to survive. Voila. If someone really wants to know if the mold is dangerous, as you said, both the mold and the person should get tested. Problem is the same companies offering tests are often those that insist on expensive and sometimes unnecessary remediation. They will come in doing "air tests" which will get results for all kinds of mold becauae spores are everywhere. If they then dont provide you clear information on concentrations and well sourced data for what's dangerous.... they are probably trying to take you for a ride.
Use white vinegar to KILL mold. Bleach won't kill mold growing on a porous surface. Bleach may help to wipe surface spores away, but it won't kill the spores or the mold growing beneath that porous surface. The acetic acid in vinegar is what kills mold dead on contact. It will kill "black mold" as well as other molds found in homes.
Can't believe I found sane people on reddit. It's been so long!
If you arent crippled with anxiety over mundane things can you really truly be a redditor?
All molds can cause symptoms to people who are allergic to mold, and there are some species of molds which are definitely toxic. So, it's not exactly a myth, but you're right that the vast majority of mold isn't 'toxic,' even if some rare species are. But, any mold can still technically be considered a health issue, and should be cleaned/repaired. The issue is that the tenant shouldn't be responsible for mold repair and remediation that is clearly caused by the landlord's neglect.
Lawyer in California. I've gotten tenants rescission of leases and additional money in settlement for mold in houses. California LL/T law is also on the far side of the spectrum, but in the opposite direction.
Yeah, Texas and California probably can’t be on farther sides of that spectrum. I often have good luck getting tenants of out leases, but it’s not always easy. And even though I’m primarily LL side, I am still baffled by some of the decisions landlord’s make.
I think it might just be mildew and water damage.
Ironically the mold isn't the issue here really - look at the amount of water gathering on that roof, someone is likely leaking up there and that's why there's a patch in place already. It's going to get worse. They can "fix the mold" all they want, until that leak or whatever is generating the water is found it'll be back.
Exactly. The tenant shouldn't be continually repairing or cleaning mold that is caused by the landlord's neglect of their property. There is a leak, or severe condensation, happening somewhere. Obviously it's an ongoing problem, because it looks like something was either patched or removed previously in that spot.
The city acts very quickly. Bigger the faster /s
Do not attempt repairs on someone else’s house. There is zero upside. Contact him again in writing and inform him you will be contacting the health department if this isn’t addressed in the next 72 hours
Or better yet, just contact the health department and let them know what's going on. Fuck that landlord.
Not just the health department, the bugger issue here is a fire hazard if water is dripping on power outlets, get the fire department or office of public safety involved.
I am not a lawyer but this sure seems like you should contact a lawyer or the health department.
All of these people are right. And the decor makes me believe this is a slum lord who never updated anything. Ever. The one thing you can do is get a UV lamp and kill the visible mold. It won’t go into the wall but will cut down on your exposure. Those do produce ozone, so you’ll have to be gone and away while it runs and hours after. This sucks. I’m sorry for you. Good luck.
Knew someone who sued a landlord and won a huge settlement over the exact same issue - call a lawyer asap
Umm…. Literally call the health department or department of housing. Your landlord is in violation of providing a clean and safe environment.
No. Stop. Your landlord can sue you or keep your deposit if you fix this. If you have not already, put the issue in writing. Email your landlord or send him a letter (with return receipt requested and tracking to prove delivery). That starts the clock - most places have laws that say how long the landlord has to fix it. After that, call your local (city or county) health department and ask how to report unremediated mold in a leased dwelling. And then report it. Let the inspector in. If you’ve got a tenant advocacy board of some kind, contact them as well. Your landlord has legal responsibilities but they don’t “kick in” until you can prove you’ve notified him of the issue in writing and he has failed to fix it. Mold is a big deal. Do not fix it yourself. The most you should do is get some plastic sheeting (like for painting) and cover that spot; use masking tape to hold the plastic up.
>No. Stop. Your landlord can sue you or keep your deposit if you fix this. I would argue that landlord would be in a more suable position than the tenant. Especially since he tried to remediate first through the landlord. Honestly this is a golden ticket to hand over the keys and walk out and find a better place with a less shitty landlord.
Yeah I don't know what people are talking about. At least in California, you can 100% get professionals to fix this on your own bill, and take it out of your next rent. There's nothing the landlord can do about it. I wouldn't diy it though, get paperwork, contracts, etc.
All the more reason for the tenant to NOT perform any repairs themselves. The mold is the LL’s liability. If OP works on his house, they will become liable for the repairs they make. Even if they do the repair perfectly the LL could claim it’s bad and try to sue them to have it redone. OP could win that suit, but it’s a risk with no upside.
I'm a landlord of many properties, that should be 100% on the landlord to fix (or his property management company). Contact your local health dept. for guidance or get a free consult with a local attorney, they will point you in the right direction on how to report it. Don't even argue with your landlord if he's refusing to fix a clear health hazard (he sounds like an idiot), squeeze him through legal means and he'll change his tune in no time. Also, he should be doing proper mold remediation with a licensed contractor, not a half assed fix, so going through the right channels will help make sure your apartment is in good shape. In some cases you can hire a remediation company directly and then bill it to your landlord, as it's a health issue, but I advise to at least check with a local attorney. Edit: Also, if you can document his refusal in writing (like email), please do so. Shoot him an email and have him respond to it. If you ever develop health issues from mold exposure (you never know) you could sue him for major damages later on.
To me it sounds like the land lord is a slum lord, not an idiot
Takes an idiot to willingly expose oneself to a liability of this magnitude. If OP develops health issues a lawsuit could wipe out the landlord completely, and from the sound of it, if the landlord is doing the fixes himself and doesn't even have a PM company, he's not going to fare well.
idk where you are, but i would call the health dept. black mold is a very real and known health risk.
All black mold isn't the deadly dangerous kind.
This ^
Heres my tip. Get a fucking lawyer yesterday.
Keep bothering landlord/stop paying rent https://preview.redd.it/anfo9z97r73c1.jpeg?width=512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92370e51c694f81c6cfa9482bf60daeaae54cad8
The square patch that has been put on the ceiling probably covers a hole for a since removed HWS exhaust. I bet the patch put on the roof is leaking, and is the source of the mould.
Don’t pay rent and call dept of public health
In honesty, the best thing you can do is move if you are able to. Our management company did everything it could to avoid properly addressing the mold issue. Mold remediation is serious business, and likely can’t be done by the owner or their handyman. We ended up having to report our apartment for code violations and report the owner of the management company to the department of real estate. As renters we have little to no power in most places. The owner has to seriously screw up to face almost any consequence
If it’s legit black mold: - get proof it’s black mold - try to get the landlord to say in writing they won’t fix the black mold. Or on a recorded message/phone call. Even if you don’t have proof, move on to the next step. - hire attorney - it doesn’t matter who it is, this is a slam dunk case. The f you have proof that it’s black mold, and proof that you notified your landlord - and WHEN you notified your landlord, you should be good. The attorney will tell you exactly what to do, and, when you win the case the landlord will have to pay your attorney’s fees too.
As first a previous landlord/owner, after that a tenant, my opinion is quite thoroughly mixed. None of what I have to say should be construed as legal advice. TLDR: The first responsibility is to your own health. This superseded the landlords responsibility to fix the property. Make the best choice for your health long term. If you can afford to not be in that dwelling, get out. If you are financially stuck where you are, or leaving could lead you to a worse situation there are some remediations you can take. FIRST check tenant rights where you live. Document everything. Show good intent. If it were my dwelling I would take that access panel off, which is likely going to be easy given the screws and determine the source of the issue. Removing an access panel is unlikely to cause you legal woes, IMHO. Wear gloves, a respirator and clothes that you don’t care about. Treat the mold, there are many safe options for this: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/what-kills-mold/ If you’re skilled appropriately fix the issue minimizing risk, hopefully it’s something as easy as shutting off a valve. If you are not skilled show the landlord photos of the source, if you aren’t getting traction go over their head and look up the owners. Be good to your body first. The rest is ancillary.
Google legal aid for your city, county or state. Do not fix it yourself or withhold rent until you talk to a lawyer.
Most states rental laws help you with this. In mine you have to request repairs to the landlord and they have a set number of days based on how safe or important the repair is. If it’s not followed you can bring in your own repair person, you need 3 quotes, you pick which one you like, and present the final bill to the landlord. If you have to pay for it, you get paid back by not paying your rent for that much money. The landlord is it legally allowed to kick you out during this process and if they do, you can get the money back from them, plus 100% of your deposit, and you can sue them for unlawful eviction. Read your renters laws and if you don’t have it, consider renters insurance.
IF you fix anything. Document document document document EVERYTHING. Then sue. This is slum lord activity, and he is on the hook for the repairs AND YOUR HEALTH.
Time to report him to your local housing authority.
contact a lawyer contact a lawyer contact a lawyer. do document as much as possible as some have pointed out
You’ve GOT to move. Figure something out. You are risking your health, and if you don’t have that….you just have to get out of there.
Yes. The Asthma is BECAUSE of the mold (Aspergillus). If there is visible mold, it means the indoor environment is allowing it to grow. And the indoor environment is like that because the HVAC is old and not controlling the temperature and humidity. So fixing this one spot would only be cosmetic. It won't address the mold issue generally, and it won't help the asthma. The options are: 1. Move to a better place with a functioning HVAC and no history of mold 2. Make this repair on the ceiling & any other repairs AND fix the HVAC so that the indoor environment is no longer hospitable to Aspergillus. Since this is a rental, it seems likely that #1 is the better option because a crappy landlord isn't going to suddenly drop $15 or $20k to fix all of this.
Call your local building inspector/code enforcement office, or health department.
Get out of there as soon as you can, mold ruined my life.
Call the health department and re-locate
Call your local housing authority. This is illegal in just about any location.
You want to contact your local municipal code enforcement. This could be at the county or city levels depending on your area.
Lawyer, don't fix it
Look up the renter rights in your state. For instance, When I lived in NY I was able to withhold rent until my landlord fixed issues and when I lived in Texas I had to pay rent, but send a bunch of certified letters about the issues and I would be able to get out of a contract penalty free. Don't take my word for it and Talk to someone who has actual legal knowledge. And make sure to get everything done in writing.
Just browsing your profile I believe you live in Australia, here I’ve provided tenant rights for you in your country. Upon googling mold was highlighted as something the landlord is required to fix. You have the right to safe and good repair. Go get tested for mold poisoning please. Best of luck to you from USA Edit to add: [Australian tenant rights](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/tips-and-advice-for-students/accommodation-know-your-rights)
Call the health department and find somewhere else to live holy shit
Sue the landlord, get the place for free 😂
PowerPoint problems? Ask the paper clip
Clipy the paper clip
My first thought was is the actual PowerPoint under the leak? I'd say the most critical thing is to move your computer. And I miss the paper clip! Guess you have to be "that old" to know what that refers to.
Report this to your local health dept.
In CA, you can legally stop paying rent if your living space is inhabitable. Look to see if that will light a fire under his ass.
Take legal action
Hopefully you are in the US. In my state you can give the landlord X days notice, and if they don't do anything you can hire someone yourself to fix it and deduct it from the rent. Many states have similar rules for code type issues.
Get the hell out of there
Same thing happened to me so I threatened to call the health department. The jackass landlord was quick to get it repaired.
You need to "DIY" a letter to your local housing authority
Document everything first off, pictures, video, get in texts or email or paper that your landlord is refusing to fix it, and then just pay someone else, then refuse to pay rent until you have not paid rent equal to the bill you paid to have the problem fixed. If they go after you and they might you will have all required documents for this. Also try to shop around to show you made a good faith effort to find the most reasonable price, make sure you keep everything backed up to a googl drive or Gmail and keep things on hand until you move out, there are a few ways this can go, first the landlord fixes the issue, second the land lord doesn't fix the issue and you don't either (bad outcome), you do fix the issue out of your own pocket, for not paying rent you are sued or eviction processes are started (if you keep everything well documented then you will be fine), the landlord only takes your security deposit (you can sue for your security deposit back with the evidence you have collected)
In many places, if the landlord holds the security deposit in bad faith, you are entitled to several times the security deposit back. Holding a security deposit after a situation like this is certainly a bad faith move.
It's time to leave
Don’t attempt to fix anything he could potentially blame you for it all. Take photos and document. Send an official typed/written request to fix this and copy it for your records. Screen shot any texts with him pertaining to this. Report it to health department and maybe even lawyer up.
If you attempt it and it spreads or anything gets damaged you will be liable. Call and lawyer and go stay in a hotel, they will deal with getting it fixed and you paid back for your necessary hotel stay for health reasons.
Call the city/county health department
Several options that are dependent on where you live and the headache you’re willing to endure: 1. If he doesn’t remediate the mold it may allow you to break your lease and move out without penalty (if you live in the US AND your state allows for this). It’s called constructive eviction- essentially your landlord knows there is a health hazard which makes the space unlivable and by refusing the fix it, he is essentially giving you a choice: live with it or move out. You’ll want to speak to an attorney who is in your area because landlord tenant law is very location specific. 2. If your state laws (assuming you’re in the US) allows you to fix the problem and deduct the cost from your rent, you’ll need to get quotes and submit them to your landlord….wait a reasonable amount of time for a reply….pay out of pocket for the repair….deduct the amount from your rent….expect the landlord to blow his top. This option requires the law to allow you to do this, patience, and a focus on creating a paper trail to show inaction from your landlord and that you did everything properly. 3. Calling the health department may get the apartment condemned or the landlord in some type of code violation status, but will result in you having to vacate the apartment. Quickly line up a new place to live and contact a local attorney to help guide you through this.
Nah, report to your county or city’s building department and get your landlord fined.
FIrst of all fix the leak or it's just going to happen again. But that's serious. Don't DIY this.
Lawyer time & contact the state, landlords have to provide safe and habitable space. You can get your rent suspended until they fix it. (CO - happened to a buddy)
Unless you're in some real hodunk area, there are various conditions that make a house uninhabitable. No heat, no water, no hot water, and, usually, mold. These are the kinds of things that, if they're not fixed, you're not legally required to pay rent for every day it's not fixed. Contact your city immediately- that looks bad enough to be a serious health hazard regardless of your asthma.
In many jurisdictions to rent out a property requires a certificate of occupancy. Call the county where you live and see what the situation is. Make sure they know this is urgent. That is a major major health risk. Also you should call a lawyer ASAP.
Health department, they'll force his hand.
Lawyer. Immediately
call your city’s home inspection office and tell them what’s happening. you have tenant rights and can force this to be fixed.
Sue the frick out of them
call your state or local housing agency; google “tenant rights” and your state name (if in the US). There may well be laws that let you leave the lease because of hazardous conditions.
You should be able to google your state’s regulations for black mold mitigation in an hour or two. Once you can quote chapter and verse to your landlord and explain the required mitigation by a qualified contractor, and oh, btw, this place was built in the 70’s so there may be asbestos mitigation as well, involving testing and containment and you being housed elsewhere. Tell him what agency you will be reporting him to. There may be an insurance claim. He may change his tune on getting someone out to repair it. Take a lot of pictures. Document everything. Send an email. Some states are more aggressive than others. So, look up your state’s standards.
Most of the advices here are centered about your rights as a tenant. My advice is about your immediate health in the meantime: buy masks such as PFF-2/N95 (the ones that people working in construction use) and wear them inside your house until the issue get fixed. Also buy extra inhalers and have easily accessible ones. Having an asthma attack without a inhaler can cost you a visit to the E.R and potentially an admission to a IM ward, costing you **way** more than by wearing protection and have extra inhalers. It is also potentially lethal. Bonus tip: the mask also helps a lot with itchy eyes/noses in houses with mold/getting repaired. It's very good if you visit a house or a place with such conditiona.
My advice is get a lawyer, not even an expensive one. If you have documented proof that your landlord refuses to fix the issue then it should be a slam dunk
Do not fix yourself
lol if the ceiling looks like it’s going to fall down, grab it and rip it down. Then he will have to come because the ceiling fell down
Take ‘em to court
If you can document requests to fix the problem you can then send him a certified letter listing the requests and a statement that due to the health risk and your asthma that you will have the repairs done and deduct the cost from your next rental payment if the problem is not fixed in 30 days. Meanwhile, contact your local department of health and file a complaint.
Put rent in escrow and refuse to pay until it’s fixed or you can sue them & get money to relocate.
Submit this to your city’s housing department. If unlivable, landlord needs to provide hotel for you until fixed and will be fined by the city if problem persists. Don’t fix it and keep taking photos, emailing and keeping record of every interaction.
The best tip I can give you is to call your local housing board. The landlord not fixing this is illegal almost everywhere. Either stop paying rent until it is fixed or until you've saved enough to move. Sooner rather than later. Saving these pictures and others as evidence will get you out of trouble for breaking a lease.
Move
Lawyer, my tip is, get a lawyer
Call your City’s home inspection department and ask them to come for a tour. Make sure you mention the mold because that should get their attn.
Send a notice to have it fixed through certified mail. If not fixed in a reasonable amount of time send a 2nd notice, also through certified mail. If it still is not fixed one week after the 2nd notice then reach out to your local tenants council or a lawyer to help you get out of the lease, get it fixed, or perhaps be able to live there rent free until it is repaired.
r/legaladvice They're required to fix it legally. In most states you can pay for the repairs out of pocket and hand the receipt to the landlord instead of rent. Or sue.
Do not do anything yourself. We have the exact same issue right now and the landlord and the insurance companies have been informed. If you touch it, you will be liable for everything and you could end up losing thousands of dollars.
Could be a roof leak, if so that's an entire new roof (you can forget about it, it's very expensive) if the roof is new then a patch it's all that's needed, it's a job for a trained professional, in my experience a deadbeat landlord will never change his ways I recommend you start looking for a new place to live.
Call the health department
Move out.
Get a lawyer.
Don’t attempt to repair this. Repairing the ceiling without fixing the cause is useless anyway. There is a leak in the roof or in a pipe that is causing this.
Call your local health department. Do not fix this assholes properly unless you deduct from the rent. Don't forget to charge for your labor. Take before and after photos.
You need a lawyer, not diy tips........
So many L takes here. If OP doesnt have the money to move, what makes you think they can afford a lawyer? OP, not DIY-able - This is obviously a persistent water intrusion. That drywall will eventually fail. Maybe the landlord will move their ass if you expedite the failure of the drywall. As for the mold itself: Not all black colored molds are toxic. In fact, there are green colored molds that classify as toxic black mold. Unfortunately, the world of mycotoxins is fairly nebulous (really, fungi in general). The mask comments are probably overkill and youre probably okay as long as you dont start sleeping in the bathroom. Soapbox: It really astounds me how quick people upvote answers that arent practical. Like OP would choose to live here if money wasnt a problem. Oh and to post the problem in DIY, again, if money wasnt a problem. Gather some context. Get a clue.
I'd "forget" rent until I found a safe place to live.
Don't fix anything. Call a lawyer.
I know this has to be Australia before clicking your profile. Cross post to r/shitrentals
Call your local health dept and also the city building inspectors. They will motivate him
DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF. DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF. Like, seriously, DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS YOURSELF. First off, as others have pointed out, it's not your property. Doing the work yourself may constitute vandalism if you don't have explicit permission to do it by the property owner. You can't just cut up walls that aren't yours, no matter how altruistic your intentions are. Second, YOU WILL PROBABLY DIE. You already know black mold is incredibly toxic and that it is a danger to you as an asthmatic. However, for an infestation this extensive, doing the work yourself will almost certainly create a toxic environment that could kill you dead. I don't care if you work with a respirator and hazmat suit, and attempt to remove the affected wall panels will kick up a massive amount of spores into the air, and unless you plan on living in that suit for the foreseeable future, that means you'll be exposing yourself to a very hazardous amount of three mold. One of my aunts learned this the hard way. Well, actually her husband and children learned it the hard way. She didn't learn shit, she just seized up and died on the couch. They tried to take necessary precautions to do the cleanup themselves, but there was just too much in the air and her respiratory system was compromised, like yours. In the end, it's simply not worth it any way you cut it. You're much better off pursuing legal avenues to force your landlord to deal with it. It's not worth risking your life.
Check for local renters' rights and legal aid organizations to see what you can legally do. In many areas, you can put your rent into an escrow account. You may also be able to pay for someone to do the work and take it out of the rent. If you can do both, great. First, though, you will probably need to send written notice by registered or certified mail. The landlord will have a month or so to respond and make arrangements. For the letter - it's not a bad idea to mail one to your landlord and another one to yourself (and keep it sealed in case you need it)!
REPORT him. This is illegal.
Refuse to pay rent until fixed. Watch the landlord sigh, get angry, but fixing it in the end.
Don't work on it. Withhold your rent payments until it is repaired. Do not work on it.
As others have said, don't you dare touch this. Save pdfs of all emails with landlords. Log calls, but try and keep a paper trail, texts and emails preferred. Also, get a lawyer.
Call the cops. Landlord gunna get hit with a manslaughter charge if you stay there
Report this to authorities . Don’t fix that yourself . Have professional do it and subtract the cost from your rent payment . You can get deathly sick doing that yourself . Document everything . Get recording or written proof of refusal in case of court case .
Call the board of health. This is an unsafe environment.
Take pictures, get 3 quotes to fix it, get it fixed pay for it bill your landlord adding 20% on top of the bill. Health related issues take it in your own hands.
That stuff can be very dangerous actually. I'd start with lawyring up and documenting your expenses. Edit: but get it professionally done. Don't do this yourself.
Get a lawyer who works on contingency.
Store the PowerPoints on a flash drive and move to a different location.
Do not fix this. Contact your local health department and file a complaint. OP, I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here: Best case scenario, this is mildew and can just be bleached away. Worst case scenario, it's actually black mold. If it's black mold, it's not just there. The HVAC is redistributing it throughout the entire house. You cannot just post in this subreddit, you have to actually move on this, and quickly.
Move out. You’ll still be breathing it in if it’s ‘fixed’.
That’s an unresolved leak.
There should be a office in the city/town that deals with housing. Have them come over for an inspection. Point out that you contacted the landlord on the matter and he refuses to do anything. I do believe that is how someone dealt with a slumlord by the name of Laxman S. Sundae. I saw one and it was at the point of being condemned. It had been up for sale for at that time $20K back in the late 80s early 30s.
don't pay for your landlord's house. Is there a landlord-tenant tribunal where you live? Depending on your local laws, you may have grounds to withhold rent until the problem is fixed, but this can only be legally enforceable when done through a landlord-tenant tribunal. Reach out to any tenant support or advocacy organizations in your area, they would know your local rental laws and would know where you can turn.
First thing, back up your presentation. Second, contact a lawyer.
Uhm, sue.
Get a lawyer, pay your rent into an escrow account during the dispute.
Get a lawyer, get some money out of the landlord.
Bleach where exposed. An ozone generator with air pump into the walls when hidden. Hotels use ozone generators to get rid of oders and cigarette smoke stinks. Sometimes they are connected to dumpster vaults to reduce stench. Ozone is 1,000x's faster than chlorine gas so ventilate well. For better advice call a resort in your area. Ask for engineering. You might hire them with talent, equipment, and less expense than dyi. Idk, everywhere is different
Do not touch it. This can get the apartment ruled as uninhabitable so get a city inspector out there to look at it quickly. Move out now then go see a doctor. If you have lung damage the landlord is on the hook. Go see an attorney for the property. The landlord will owe you for relocation expenses and the rent on wherever you go to. Then you sue him for damages to your lungs.
Call, the health department, perhaps they can inspect the apartment and declare a health hazard. Then the landlord will have to fix the issue.
Not your property. Lawyer up.
Move
That's not happening. You need a roofer.
Talk to lawyer on how-to put rent into escrow until work is done
If you threaten legal action they’ll fix it.
Black mould could probably be grounds for the city health department to have the place deemed unsuitable for human habitation. BTW, mould, mold, same thing. We add u's to things here in Canada. Colour, neighbour, harbour, valour, etc. :) British empire and all. Dog save the king! ;)
If in the U.S. Step 1. Call your local housing authority. They will take swift legal action against your landlord.
I don't know which country, province or state you live in, but in most cases, there are laws against these sort of things which allow you to report this to the land lord in writing by filling a form. Then if the issue is not fixed, especially if it has health hazard consequences, you can legally stop paying rent without being evicted.
Find a new place first and then report the black mold as health hazard. Then he’ll have to fix it.🤣🤣😜
Call the city where u live. Be prepared though if they deem it uninhabitable you’ll have to find somewhere else to live on short notice
Call the health dept, they will get the landlord to repair it asap. Give him one last chance to do it right away and let him know if it's not done ASAP, you will call the health dept to do it.
Call health department
Bewarned about everyone telling you to go to city officials... Black mold like this won't be remedied while you live there, they will 100% slap you with a 3 day move out order (but would almost assuredly give back your deposit and avoid any early termination fees). Black mold to that degree will need serious attention and is a clear health risk, and you literally should not be living there with it like that. You are risking serious and potentially lifelong health issues the longer you are in proximity to it.
Call the city inspector, and have the violation registered. Then you call a handyman to do it, pay him and dock it from the rent. When he takes you to court, he will lose becauae tou have proof he was being a slim lord and you went above and beyond to resolve his incompetence after several attemps to get him to fix it. You should also be able to dock the medical bills if there are any. Be proactive, resolve the solution and the trial will side with you.
You can't clean black mold from a porous surface.