Mold Problems Can Cause Landlords More Than Headaches
Whenever you read or hear a news story about Real Estate and Mold, you are likely to also notice the words litigation and plaintiffs. That is because mold in apartments or rental properties can be a serious health risk to occupants and a major liability to landlords.
People with any type of immunodeficiency condition are at highest risk. That can include young children, seniors, people with diabetes, those with Graves’ disease, asthma sufferers, and many other common conditions. That means every landlord has some tenants that are highly sensitive to mold spores and at risk of serious illness from unhealthy air.
Indoor air quality laws
In 2001, California was the first state to pass any law dealing with toxic mold in residential rental properties. That state was quickly followed by Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Texas, and Washington. By 2003, 30 states and the federal government had passed some form of Real Estate and Mold legislation. Also growing at a brisk pace are personal injury lawsuits connected with mold exposure in apartments and rental houses. The Environmental Law Institute has a database of indoor air quality laws for every state.
Other legal actions
As homeowners are finding out in Ypsilanti Township, properties can draw legal actions even without having any current occupants. The board of trustees for Ypsilanti has served notice to eight homeowners that they need to make the needed repairs or the houses will be declared a public nuisance and demolished.
To protect your tenants from unhealthy air and protect yourself from possible legal action, call Stern Mold to schedule a thorough inspection of all your buildings. Ask about our effective MoldExterm system.