Community Chat

[VioletEyes]

Ford, I am so sorry to hear this but there are ways of handling it without necessarily needing to hire an attorney.

First call the building management and tell them if it is not cleaned up immediately, you have no other choice but to call the building code (violation division) Board of Health in your town. I called years ago when something similar happened. They came and inspected. Afterwards, they told the management they had 30 days to clean it up or they would be fined. They know they can be sued for this, so they usually just need prompting from law enforcement.

You can do this on your own....an attorney will cost you and won't always work in a timely fashion because it is a small claim...

Apartment living can be very difficult so I really feel for both you and your daughter.

[NoelSeven]

It seems like your landlord is not interested in fixing the problem, this can't be the first time he's heard about it.

My guess is that he will do nothing other than cover it up with caulking unless he is forced to do something.

I'd suggest starting by calling your TV consumer reporter or the EPA. Good luck!

[Qwackertoo]

On 4/8/2015 Ford1224 said:Yes, we have one in Philly . . . in fact all three networks ABC, CBS, and NBC have local news consumer divisions. I want to give them time to realize I am not going to back away from this. I don't think they can legally kick us out.

Another maintenance guy just came to the door. He also was carrying a caulker. However, my daughter is still asleep and he said he would come back later this afternoon. All he said was "I understand you are having a problem in the bathrooms?" He did not use the word "mold," so I already see I have a fight on my hands.

I know this is very serious health wise . . . especially for your daughter.

I went through something similar with my daughter last Fall. 250 miles away at college. With three roommates in a 4 bedroom apartment. Mold issues in my daughter and the other girl on "their" side of the apartments bathroom and the kitchen. I guess this girl is extremely highly allergic/sensitive to mold, asthma etc.

Well her Mother went a little ballistic. To the point she called the Code Inspection people head honcho . . . an attorney friend in town. Well the Code Inspection people showed up and she was pushing the issue so hard the apartment people, whom she didn't really give a sufficient amount of time to address the issue . . . decided they would just boot the girls OUT. With a lease. And move them to another apartment within the complex. Problem was no 4 bedrooms they were going to have to split them up, 2 to another 2 bedroom and 1 each to another 4 bedroom with one missing roommate so they'd have been going to 3 different locations and with strangers.

I called up the manager and said whoa lets take a step back, please don 't put out the basically 48 or maybe it was 72 hour notice to VACATE . I said please when the district manager shows up tomorrow, take a look, get maintenance to repair and use Killz or whatever . . . as the entire complex is going to be renovated and their building was next to be moved to another building so they weren't going to spend big bucks to fix it and then gut the building a month later.

There was basically no where else to move in town with campus transit bus stops, 4 bedrooms, and two girls are paying their own ways so money was an issue in that we couldn't just move them to a much more expensive complex.

So bottom line . . . I know it is a different state . .. but I guess they can "kick you out" but offer you another unit . . . but still the hassle of moving . . . etc. etc. Oh and when they moved our four girls for the renovation to another building . . . they did it during FINAL exam week and about 24 hour notice. Not Nice.

GOOD LUCK Ford & Your Daughter!

[bikerbabe]

In CA they can give you a notice to vacate if they determine the problem cannot be fixed with the apartment occupied. It could mean ripping out the entire bathroom, treating and rebuilding it. You do need to find out what kind of mold it is. I would try to work through management first. Next step would be to contact local authorities for safety issues. Be prepared it could make for a bad relationship with management and an unhappy living situation (ie, be prepared for the possiblity of moving).

[Purrrfect]

How disappointing for you.

Not all mold is toxic. I would call a mold specialist and have them test it, if you can afford it, and save all documentation. Take photos too. If the findings come back that it's toxic your landlord is responsible for having it removed.

Home Depot sells kits that you can test yourself but I wouldn't rely on a home kit. My brother had a similar issue in his shower but it was remedied with bleach.

However, I suspect your mold is coming from behind the drywall in your shower. Most older bathrooms have mold harboring behind tiles and sheet rock from previous leaks and flooding.

[Purrrfect]

Some info about mold:

nevermind it's not copying properly sorry

[LilacTree]

On 4/8/2015 SoftRaindrops said:

Ford, I am so sorry to hear this but there are ways of handling it without necessarily needing to hire an attorney.

First call the building management and tell them if it is not cleaned up immediately, you have no other choice but to call the building code (violation division) Board of Health in your town. I called years ago when something similar happened. They came and inspected. Afterwards, they told the management they had 30 days to clean it up or they would be fined. They know they can be sued for this, so they usually just need prompting from law enforcement.

You can do this on your own....an attorney will cost you and won't always work in a timely fashion because it is a small claim...

Apartment living can be very difficult so I really feel for both you and your daughter.

My last resort would be to call an attorney. I have already spoken to a third party contractor who will come out and test my apartment and provide a full report which I can then give to the Board of Health. Unfortunately, I hate stuff like this, but I have no choice.

This apartment was completely renovated. It looked brand new and we were so excited to get it. Obviously they did not fix what they thought we would not see.

[Hoovermom]

I am so sorry to hear this Ford. I was thrilled reading about your apartment search and find with your DD. Please let us know how this is resolved to your satisfaction. Both of your health is so important in the days ahead. Take care of yourself.

[LilacTree]

On 4/8/2015 Ugh said:

How disappointing for you.

Not all mold is toxic. I would call a mold specialist and have them test it, if you can afford it, and save all documentation. Take photos too. If the findings come back that it's toxic your landlord is responsible for having it removed.

Home Depot sells kits that you can test yourself but I wouldn't rely on a home kit. My brother had a similar issue in his shower but it was remedied with bleach.

However, I suspect your mold is coming from behind the drywall in your shower. Most older bathrooms have mold harboring behind tiles and sheet rock from previous leaks and flooding.

The maintenance guy (who was very nice) came yesterday and told us the shower stalls were put directly onto concrete, there is no drywall or sheetrock in between. They would have to destroy them to get them off and we would probably have to stay somewhere else while this is done because the fumes would be dangerous. I have seen cases where the remediation had to be done while the workers were in full hazmat gear, including face masks. Hopefully this situation is not that bad, as that would be a worst case scenario.

[VioletEyes]

On 4/8/2015 Ford1224 said:

On 4/8/2015 SoftRaindrops said:

Ford, I am so sorry to hear this but there are ways of handling it without necessarily needing to hire an attorney.

First call the building management and tell them if it is not cleaned up immediately, you have no other choice but to call the building code (violation division) Board of Health in your town. I called years ago when something similar happened. They came and inspected. Afterwards, they told the management they had 30 days to clean it up or they would be fined. They know they can be sued for this, so they usually just need prompting from law enforcement.

You can do this on your own....an attorney will cost you and won't always work in a timely fashion because it is a small claim...

Apartment living can be very difficult so I really feel for both you and your daughter.

My last resort would be to call an attorney. I have already spoken to a third party contractor who will come out and test my apartment and provide a full report which I can then give to the Board of Health. Unfortunately, I hate stuff like this, but I have no choice.

This apartment was completely renovated. It looked brand new and we were so excited to get it. Obviously they did not fix what they thought we would not see.

Ford, the Board of Health will do all the necessary tests and won't always necessarily take a third party contractor's word. If the estimate is costing you, then see what the town will do for you. They will make the building management hire someone. Been there done that....