Forum Index
»
Off-Topic
Mold in rental house
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
We rent from HOC and left a townhome that had a basement leak and mold problem because one of our sons has an allergy to mold and they weren't taking care of the problem. They moved us into another home, which I specifically asked if it had any leaks or mold problems and was told no. Well, the first rain we had after moving in proved that there was indeed a leak. Once we pulled away the insulation, we found a huge crack in the foundation. Since we are renters, we called the manager and told them of the problem. It took many phone calls and many months later for them to come and fix the leak, which actually still isn't 100% fixed. There is still a crack in the foundation they haven't fixed that leaks a little bit of water every time it rains.
When we started using the furnace for heat this winter, we called a company in to clean the air ducts and when they opened them up they said it looked like they had never been cleaned and there were serious mold issues. I thought maybe they were just telling me that to get more money out of me. Since we are renters, I called the manager again and asked him to get an air quality inspection. That was done about a month ago and I figured since I didn't hear anything and never received phone calls back, that there wasn't a mold problem. Come to find out there was and they did not send anyone out for an entire month to do mold remediation. They just came yesterday and seems to have done a good job with the cleaning. Anyway, since we've been living here, my son has had continuous problems with allergies, my other son has developed asthma-like symptoms and I've lost a baby in the 2nd trimester. An autopsy could not find any reason for the loss. No chromosomal abnormalities or anything, just growth behind by a week or two. Since doing research, I've found that mold can be contributed to these issues, among other health issues. My dad thinks we have a case for a lawyer, but I don't really know. Has anyone else ever been through a mold problem in a rental? Is is a case for a lawyer? |
Anonymous
| I am a commercial property manager and yes, mold can contribute to many, very serious health problems. If you're not getting the results you want/ need from your rental company, hire a lawyer. I would also make a suggestion that you move out as quickly as possible. Mold can grow where there is continued water penetration and simply because the ducts are clean, does not mean that any other mold that is growing will be gone. A crack in the foundation could lead to mold behind walls and in the ceiling that duct cleaning would not get to. I have a good friend who is going through this right now in a rental house and the owner is doing what they can to remediate the problem. They need to provide you with a healthy, safe living environment. If not, that is a breach of your contract ( if you have a lease with the owner ). |
Anonymous
| Sorry for your loss OP. I moved here from another state -this area has a lot of mold everywhere. The sides of the houses, the roofs, the tree leaves (look at the leaves when they come down in the fall). I have two points; the first is that you may want to consider moving to a different area of the country that does not have as serious a mold issue if it is such a health hazard for your family. Second, while you may want to talk to talk to a lawyer about the landlord obligations, it may be hard to prove that the mold in your house is what caused it, given that this area is moldy. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| OP, I sympathize with you regarding your son's asthma problems. That is a terrible thing to have to deal with. I will play devil's advocate for a moment here, however. Basement leaks are notoriously difficult (and sometimes impossible) to fix. If I were you, I would make sure that your son does not spend time in basements, wet or otherwise. Even in relatively dry basements in this part of the country, you will likely have higher humidity levels than in the rest of the house - this can lead to mold and mildew. Do you have a dehumidifier and/or HEPA filter in your living space? This could help. |
Anonymous
Not really a helpful comment. This area being a moldy area is not excuse for a landlord not to take care of a leaky basement and mold issues in the house. I have lived in Montgomery County my entire life and it wasn't until I started renting from the county that we started having problems with mold. You suggesting that we just up and move to another part of the country doesn't make sense. My husband does not have a job that he can just transfer, or believe me, we would have been gone from this area a long time ago. The point is, the landlord should take care of his obligations and provide a healthy place for us to live. Mold is not healthy! |
Anonymous
| Well, the manager just came over today to check the crack in the foundation and told me he would be on top of things so no one in the house would get sick. Um, they have already been sick! He then asked if we had mold remediation before and I said no. He mentioned that he had looked back over his notes and they had done mold remediation on the house in July 2008, two months before we moved in. I had specifically asked when he showed us the unit if there was a basement leak or mold issue and he said no. They did not disclose the information about prior mold problems, even though they knew I have a son with a mold allergy. I'm ready to contact a lawyer now. Does anyone have recommendations for what kind of lawyer I should contact? |
Anonymous
|
OP, you should contact a lawyer who has environmental law and real estate law experience. There is a great firm in Bethesda that has experience with both. I cannot remember the name, but I think it has "Blocher" in it.
Search martindale or call your state's bar association. |
Anonymous
| PP, do you mean Linowes & Blocher? |
Anonymous
| PP, yes that is the firm. Thanks. |
Anonymous
|
So you rent from the HOC (Housing Opportunities Commission) renting homes to low to moderate income. So now you are going to sue Montgomery County Gov't, and raise my taxes? HOC should respond to your complaints, call your county council member and complain. I would like to see this remediated without suing the government and paying out monies to you when they could be providing other services to other people in need too.
Another thing to so is move out of your home, rent from someone other than HOC. |
Anonymous
Oh, so you feel because I rent from HOC I should not be allowed to sue. If I rented from someone other than HOC it would be ok to sue. I'm glad you're only care in the world is about you and your taxes, rather than the health of someone's family. I'm sure if you were in the same position, you wouldn't be feeling the same way. Why would renting from someone other than HOC solve the problem? We could have the same issues or different from another landlord, which we've had in the past. The fact is that they have not fixed the problem and I have spent a lot of time and money shuttling my children back and forth to the doctor for health issues because of the mold. It's a very serious issue and should not be dismissed! Also, what in the world is a county council member going to do?! That gave me a good laugh! |
Anonymous
| This is the property manager PP - OP, you have just as much right to clean, decent housing as everyone else. I do agree though, that you should move out. There are other low income housing options. Hiring a lawyer could be expensive and take some time, it sounds like you should get out of your lease and find somewhere else. Good luck, your kids need your advocacy right now - get them decent housing! |