my bathroom caused a leak to the unit downstairs. The plumber who came to repair it already removed a large piece of the moldy ceiling and fixed the leak. Now the downstairs neighbor still wants us to do mold remediation. But since the ceiling has already been cut open, and after checking behind it there was no mold, can we just tell her that we will cut away the damp parts, clean the ceiling with alcohol, and then seal it back up? She keeps insisting that we use a mold remediation company, but those companies are a bottomless pit. Can I say that we’ll just hire a handyman to take care of it ourselves?
Water damage freaks people out (rightfully so), and neighbors almost always jump straight to “hire a remediation company.” The reality: not every leak needs a $3k+ mold remediation crew.
If the plumber already opened up the ceiling, fixed the source, and you can see there’s no active mold, then the main thing is to remove all wet/damaged material, dry it thoroughly, and replace it. Bleach or alcohol wipe-down is fine, but drying is the most critical step. If you just patch over damp material, that’s when mold can grow later.
That said, from a landlord/owner standpoint, you also have to think about liability and perception. If your neighbor ever pushes this with insurance or a lawyer, and you cut corners, it could cost you way more than hiring a pro. Sometimes it’s worth bringing in a remediation company just to have the paperwork that says “certified mold inspection/remediation was done.”
Middle ground:
Document everything (photos of the open ceiling, moisture readings if you can get them).
Offer to have a handyman replace the drywall after confirming it’s completely dry.
If the neighbor insists on remediation, you can also check if your insurance policy covers water damage/mold claims — let them fight that battle for you.
So yes, technically you can fix it yourself if it’s dry and clean, but weigh the risk vs. peace of mind. Sometimes the cost of “overkill” is really just buying protection against future disputes; I hope this help you a bit, I sent you a DM on BP and hope you can assist.
my question is can i write to her let her know directly how am i going to deal with mold killer and clean the area or should i be careful with my languages