hi people
i've been living in my appartment for 3 years and we have mold big time. especially in winter. even the dishes in the kitchen gets mold. we get mold in our clothes, shoes, mattresses, wall is all black, furniture. it's everywhere. we all have been sick. especially my 5 years old son. everytime i would tell them. they would tell me to keep the room ventilate, i was even told by the management that it's not mold it's meldew. the other appartments nearby me have the same issue but mine is worst
what makes my situation even worst is that yesterday i receive a call from the manager telling me with attitude that that it's too hot in my appartment and by not turning on the ac and the fan i'm causing mold and if i don't comply by using the ac they will nothorized their lawyer against me. i am soooo mad cause i'm the victim here. so i wanna consult a lawyer about that situation and i need a referral form a good lawyer. i need to take care of this ASAP. thank you in advance for your input guys
well, i'm making some phone calls to get help. every winter i tell myself that i cant stay here anymore but i HATE moving it's so much headache so i keep cleaning and hope that they will do something about it, but they never did. and now they trying to make me countable for it. i know it's not a ventilation problem cause whenever it's summer my light bill is very high and in winter thre's not way i'm gonna keep the window open. and it just don't make sense cause why did i not have that problem in my previous appartment complex i lived there for 5 years never had mold. also, my neighbors have the same issues even the ones who moved out. i checked my lease aggreement yes it does say that i could get in trouble but i don't see how i can get in rouble when it's their fault. my neighbor say they gonna ask to be moved out.
I would never put my child's health in jeopardy for 3 years. Are you being held hostage in the apartment? If no then you are not the victim, MOVE.
You must maintain a clean, dry environment so mold and mildew cannot grow. If your apartment is equipped with windows and has a fan, that would be considered "equipped with proper ventilation". IF you are leaving your apartment closed up and very warm during winter, you will get mold if you are not keeping things clean and dry. Hate to say it, but you would probably lose this battle in court. You ought to move before you get an eviction on your record. Check your lease. My lease states that the tenant is responsible for any mold growth in their apartment.
Get on it with some bleach, and keep your apartment dry by circulating the air.
An effective first move is contacting the city so they will deem it unlivable and MAKE the manager repair it. Building and code inspections can do something about it.
Why have you knowing lived in it for 3 yrs?
Don't play the victim, step up and do something. The city and health department is your first move.
Omg! Move! And if I were you I'd leave anything soft behind...aka throw it out. Black mold=big health problems
"Hating to move" is no excuse for staying in an apartment that you know has mold! You've dealt with this problem for 3 years? Have you called department of housing or health and human services? If not, do it right now.
In the meantime, start looking for another apartment that is safe and habitable. Take pictures and document proof of mold, contact with the landlord (save letters/notices that they've sent you, things you've sent them), and get a plan for moving out. This may be something you can break your lease over, however, if you've knowingly put up with it for 3 years then a court may not have a whole lot of sympathy for you.
I would start with the public health department in your town or city. This sounds like a huge health code violation. The inspector should visit all of the apartments affected, and then contact the landlord. This will not cost you anything. The landlord will have to fix the problem or face huge fines - and maybe both. The landlord cannot take action against you because of this - you have legal protection. You do not need to go to the expense of a lawyer yet - use the public services available to you. Also, take photographs of the mold (or mildew - it doesn't matter!) so you have proof.
Mold is not healthy and you've put up with this for 3 years??
If you live in a basement apartment, you need to ventilate. Is there a vent fan for the bathroom? Moisture and heat combined cause mold. Open the windows and turn on the A/C -- the place needs to dry out! Do this while you look for a new place to live.
That said, there might be a leak somewhere in the walls that is causing the mold.
Call the Bar Association and ask them to recommend an attorney. If you need a free attorney, they can help you with that, too.
The owner needs to find a way to get rid of the mold. Find a new place to live... move out. Take pictures now... take pictures of everything...
LBC
Call the city & public health department, there are rules and ragulations that building/apartment managers have to follow. They city will take care of it but call now.
How warm is it in your apartment? Do you have control over the temp? I would think if you have it set at 70, even all closed up there should not be a mold issue. When taking a shower or bath is there a vent fan on?
It is very unhealthy to live in these conditions, MOVE and call the city to let them know of the issue. Since it is not just your apartment it makes me think that there is A LOT more going on that the manager is trying to avoid.
