Landlord or Tenant: Who is Responsible for Mold?

You should always familiarize yourself with your rights when you rent a home. You need to understand what falls on your shoulders, and what you should defer to your landlord to handle. One thing that often feels as though it falls into a gray area is mold. Mold is not always easy to detect, and when you can see it, the infestation may have evolved to a point where it’s become a substantial issue. It’s understandable this could easily raise the question of who should foot the bill.

Are There Laws?

Not necessarily. Most states don’t have a law regarding at what point mold makes a home uninhabitable. With no laws surrounding this, it generally falls between the landlord and the tenant to determine who is financially responsible for the issue.

One thing to note is that your landlord is obligated to disclose any potential safety hazards when they craft the lease. Any issues should be remediated before the move in date, or the tenant should sign disclosures that state they’re aware of the home’s conditions.

The Question of Liability

You can often determine the liable party by taking note of the circumstances surrounding the cause of mold. If it’s the result of a leak or a plumbing issue, the landlord will often remedy the situation. An exception to this rule would be if a pipe was clogged because the tenant allowed foreign objects, such as hair, to clog the drain.

If the mold is the result of a tenant’s negligence, the landlord will likely not take any responsibility. If the tenant has not followed proper sanitary practices and has neglected to keep their home free of moisture, the landlord cannot be expected to fix the problem.

If there’s an occasion in which you would like the landlord to handle the problem, document any communication you have with them—this includes the initial interactions that occurred when a leak or burst pipe was identified. A paper trail is always the most foolproof way to help determine responsibility.

We’re Here to Help

A state inspection is usually carried out in situations such as the ones explained above. When it comes to the actual mold remediation process, however, you want to hire an experienced professional to ensure the job receives the expert attention it needs. For attic mold removal in Muskegon, contact Attic Renew.