Tenants in Mold Infested Housing Fear for Their Lives
Tenants in the Bronx have filed suit against NYCHA, New York City’s public housing authority, after mold and fungus issues have been left to linger. The agency had settled previous complaints in 2013 with a new system for handling mold problems in a timely manner — but tenants say no real solution has ever come.
The lawsuit says housing conditions at Castle Hill Houses put tenants’ “life, health, or safety,” at risk. That’s no exaggeration. Mold and fungus pose significant health risks for tenants with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Anyone can develop breathing problems, infections, or even cancer after prolonged exposure to mold.
Building management blames budget cuts and old infrastructure for the problem, but that serves as little excuse to the tenants who have been reporting mold problems for months or years without an answer. Modern mold removal treatments exist that could have wiped out the building’s mold and fungus problem completely while preventing reoccurrence.
A Lasting Answer to Household Mold
When NYCHA has made mold repairs, the problem has returned. About 80% of tenants with mold issues say that previous efforts to curb the problem have been unsuccessful in the long run.
One solution for recurring mold and fungus problems: Stern’s MoldExterm system. Instead of simply killing the mold, MoldExterm applies a special polymer seal after cleaning. The seal prevents mold from regrowing, effectively blocking the underlying problem from developing more mold in the future.
The sickening health effects of mold make this problem one that landlords should never ignore. If anyone discovers mold in your building, management can take action by calling Stern Mold for advanced mold treatment and prevention.