[Repairs] How to approach mold issues?

Question

Hey BP Team -

Looking to tap again into the wealth of knowledge available on the forums in regards to some recurring mold issues I have!

My situation

• Rental property in Sacramento got mold in February
• Insurance was unwilling to pay for this
• Sent out mold remediation team to repair (~$4k) - provided lodging, etc for the tenants
• Thought things were fully settled
• Mold reappeared recently in early December

Questions

• Did I handle the original situation appropriately?
• What is the best way to go about handling this situation and other mold issues moving forward?

Any thoughts would be helpful!  Also hoping this discussion would be helpful to other landlords!

Cheers,Andrew

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

biggest scam on the planet... bottle of Clorox and a rag

Michael Totman · Answer

To answer your first question, apparently not. Maybe? Do mold remediation companies offer any sort of warranty?  You need to find the source of the mold: leaking water pipe/roof, ground water penetration, drain pipe leak, windows/siding aren't weather tight or flashed correctly and they let rain in, gutters and downspouts aren't working correctly, or tenants are screwing with you intentionally.

Edward Hamill · Answer

It is never "mold"... it is heavy mildew  :-)   Mold is a bad four-letter word to use around a tenant!  That is when they start to call inspectors, health department, lawyers, etc... Just saying!

Tim Kunz · Answer

I agree some mold spray will do the trick...BUT the source of moisture that is fueling the mold growth should be address or the problem will keep arising

Deanna McCormick · Answer

I agree, have the unit checked out,  moisture is somehow not venting out properly, A/C units, bath fans, vents or maybe you just need to add extra vents so the moisture can escape faster. the air needs to circulate and whatever is causing the issue, it's is close to the area where the mold is appearing,

You handled the situation correctly the first time, I'd check with the company that did the work prior and see what their take is. Call another company out to do a bid and get someone in that knows how to properly check the humidity level in the house..

Are they growing POT ??  Do they have excess of indoor plants,, if so MAKE Them remove the plants, or fish tanks, or anything else that adds humidity to the apartment that's not suppose to be there.

Patti Robertson · Answer

I'd check your state's landlord tenant law.  In VA we have very specific requirements regarding mold remediation. I'm currently being sued by a SEC 8 tenant for a mold case.  We did everything we were required to do, and at her request, gave her a mutual termination of her lease.  She is just grasping at straws. She sued us for over $7K for the replacement of her furniture and the return of her security deposit.  She filed the suit two days before her lease termination. Her furniture was required to be insured on her renters insurance policy that she failed to buy.  In addition, a local furniture company has two judgments totaling $3400 against her, and has possession of her furniture.  To make the matter even more laughable, her deposit she sued us for was provided by the city social services department and came with a requirement that any remaining deposit get turned back to them. Ridiculous as it is, our court requires that we be represented by an attorney because the property is owned by an LLC.

Kyle Hipp · Answer

humidity gauge. Have it placed in several rooms in the unit and see what it reads. Will take a little while to get a good reading in each area. The location of the mold will be the biggest indicator but if you have higher humidity in the house it needs to be removed and managed

Andrew Luong · Answer

Hey @Kyle Hipp - thanks for the response here.  How do you suppose would be the best way to go about detecting the source of the moisture?  I've done a leak detection in the past and it doesn't appear that this is the case.

Kyle Hipp · Answer

Bleach will work on hard non-porous surfaces but wood, drywall, ect it does very little and in fact can make the issue worse. Use a Concrobium product. Like others have mentioned, the source needs to be discovered. If it is not from a leak, then their is most likely too much moisture in the air. As homes get tighter,this is becoming a larger issue as moisture has a harder time disputing when there are less air changes in a building. Air flow along with a dehumidification system would then be required to get the humidity level below 50%. Having proper venting for the bathroom and kitchen will also assist quite a bit.

Andrew Luong · Answer

Very very insightful here - thanks so much!

@Thanh Nguyen - great read there!

[Repairs] How to approach mold issues?

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