What Renters Need To Know About Mold

One of the greatest benefits of renting instead of owning is being able to call a landlord when some thing goes wrong. But what about when there is an issue that can cause a health hazard, like mold? HotPads asked mold testing expert Jeremy Shelton about what renters should do if they see or suspect mold issues in their rental.

How do renters know when there is an air quality or mold issue in their rental?
Mold, is a micro-organism that decomposes dead organic waste. Individual spores are too small to be seen with the naked eye, however when mold finds a suitable host and begins reproducing colonies are formed and often appear black, blue, green, or white. Mold grows and spreads in two ways through extension hyphae (tiny roots), a mold colony can quickly spread over a surface. A mold species will also release spores into the air, much like a dandelion these spores are carried by air and water until a suitable host is found. Prolonged continuous exposure to an environment with elevated spore counts can lead to a variety of health issues.

It’s far easier to avoid renting a property with a mold issue than it is to go through the process of identifying and remediating a problem.
Some things to look for when looking at potential properties are as follows:

A musty or stale odor – pay extra attention in areas prone to high humidity such as bathrooms, basements, garages, crawlspaces, etc.

Mold growth and areas at risk – when walking through a potential property look for signs of mold. Pay close attention to bathrooms look in vanities, around vents, look for peeling wallpaper, and any signs of moisture damage; do the same in the kitchen. Inspect ceilings and walls for water damage, brown stain and sagging drywall are all signs of potential water damage and if it hasn’t been addressed appropriately it’s a haven for mold growth. Look around windows and doors, ensure they open and shut properly and form a good seal. Look for bubbled or peeling vinyl or laminate floors, as this is often a sign of water damage and prime spot for mold growth. In properties with basements, concrete floors, and or concrete walls, look for discoloration in spots as this is a sign of a water leak.

If you’ve already moved into a property and noticed any of these problems and suffering from any of the following chronic systems a mold inspection might be a worthwhile investment.

What are some mold symptoms?

• Chronic clogged throat
• Wheezing and cough
• Nose and throat irritation
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or uncontrollable vomiting
• Skin irritation
• Persistent cold-like or flu-like symptoms
• Burning, itching, watering eyes
• Dizziness
• Tremors
• Heart palpitations
• Aggravation of asthma
• Exhaustion after routine activity
• Serious swelling of legs, ankles, and feet
• Serious swelling in the torso or stomach
• Prolonged muscle cramps and joint pain
• Nervous system problems (headaches, memory loss, moodiness)
• Aches and pains
• Fever
• Unexplained chronic fatigue

How do you as a professional detect mold in a rental?

STAY AWAY FROM DIY MOLD TESTING KITS they’re a waste of your time and money.

A thorough visual inspection is the most important step in discovering a contamination. I’ll go through a property and look for the same things I outlined above as well as low air circulation and high humidity. Depending on the property I sometimes also use a thermal camera to detect cool spots within walls and floors, which typically indicates a moisture problem.

I’ll also take an air quality sample both outside and inside. This allows me to calculate the estimated spore counts and compare the indoor and outdoor air quality. If the levels are higher inside than outside this is a sign of contamination. Air samples also allow me to identify the mold genus and occasionally the species, this information will help me in determining the presence of toxic molds. The lab will also identify the presence or lack thereof hydrophilic mold types caused by excessive moisture.

After performing the inspection I’ll send my findings off to a certified lab. After a couple of weeks I’ll receive an in depth analysis from the lab and if necessary complete a report outlining remediation protocol and advise the property owner on the next steps.

What are the different types of mold that can affect a home?

There are seemingly endless species (estimates range from tens of thousands to three hundred thousand) of mold, but here are the most common types found within the home.

• Alternaria
• Ascospores
• Aspergillus/Penicillium
• Bisidiospores
• Bipolaris++
• Chaetomium
• Cladosporium
• Curvularia
• Epococcum
• Fusarium
• Ganoderma
• Myxomyceted++
• Pithomyces
• Scopulariopsis
• Stachybotrys
• Torula
• Ulocladium
• Zygomycetes

Black mold contains mycotoxins. These are massed in groups named trichothecenes. There are over 60 types of trichothecene. The most common found in toxic black mold are:

Cyclosporin

Roridin E

Satratoxin F, G and H

Sporidesmin G

Stachybotryolactone

Trichoverrol

Trichoverrin

Verrucarin J

How do you clean up mold?
The EPA recommends that any remediation of an area greater than 10 square feet be left to a professional. The first step in the remediation process is to find and address the source of moisture. Once the issue has been fixed, you can begin the cleanup process. If in a small area such as a bath tub or window sill a little bit of bleach should do the trick. For walls and wood surfaces, I prefer a product called TSP (Trisodium phosphate) mixed with a bit of bleach. Simply wash the walls down and repaint. Larger areas typically require a professional remediation teams to ensure that the mold spores are successfully removed from both the surface and air instead of just thrown into the air and allowed to rest on a new surface.

What are renter’s rights around mold or air quality issues in their home? What do renters need to know when it comes to these issues, especially when dealing with a landlord?
No federal law and very few building codes or regulations that clearly outline responsibilities regarding mold exposure. On the state level very few states have passed any laws or regulations in regards to mold exposure, Maryland, California, Indiana, Texas, and New Jersey. In New York landlords are required to follow guidelines set by the Department of Health.

While mold regulations aren’t outlined landlords in every state except Arkansas are required and responsible for maintaining suitable housing for their tenants. This means any leaking pipes, windows, doors, leaks in the roof etc. are required to be fixed. If a health problem related to mold forms they could potentially be held responsible. However any mold caused by the tenant is not the responsibility of the landlord.

While I can’t offer any legal advice, the best advice I can give is to do the following. Document any signs of mold or damage. Contact your landlord and make them aware of the issues in writing, ask them to have a mold inspection performed. If they refuse contact your local health department for information regarding local mold-related rules and regulations. It may be worth the cost to have the property inspected out of pocket if the presence of mold would allow you to exit your lease. If the property does in fact face elevated spore counts and needs to undergo remediation, I’d recommend finding another place to live as remediation can be a lengthy and intrusive process.

What are some good mold prevention tactics for renters? 
The key to combatting mold is moisture control; here are a few tips I often recommend to clients. Run the bathroom fan during and after you take a shower this allows proper ventilation. In places that stay relatively humid invest in a dehumidifier, for smaller areas like closets and pantries products like DampRid are perfect. Check for leaky faucets and pipes regularly, it’s much easier to fix a problem early than it is to replace wood rot and remediate mold. Ensure your gutters are cleaned out and water drains away from the house and doesn’t pool up against the foundation.