What do I do if there is mold in my rental unit ? We have all been there before. At one point or another (especially if you live in Florida) there is a high chance you have come across mold growth in your house condo or apartment.  If you have noticed mold growth either visibly, or through smell, you need to address it. To start, mold can began to grow rather quickly. Mold begins to grow usually in 24-48 hours. There are two main ingredients for mold to grow; food and water. Food is any organic matter. Yes, even dust. so it is important to first evaluate the situation. As a licensed mold assessor in Florida with years of experience, I will go over the steps I would take immediately after suspecting mold growth.

So What do I do if there is mold in my rental unit ?

First Florida takes mold very serious due to its demographic of retirees. They have put strict rules on the proper way of handling mold, and mold remediation, this can sometimes make the process very expensive and very necessary to not put occupants in harms way.

In fact,

Florida Statute 83.56 states a tenant should write to the rental unit owner or property manager outlining that you need the mold problem fixed (or other problems with the unit), and that if it is not fixed within 7 days, then you intend to terminate the rental agreement and move out.

And not just anyone can perform mold related services. To engage in mold repair in the state of Florida several licensed professionals must be involved  to legally proceed with the repair. This is a main reason insurance companies always have a mold clause in their policy.

Before calling us to schedule an appointment, here is what to do if you find yourself asking What do I do if there is mold in my rental unit ?

Step 1 : Locate visible microbial growth. Usually this will be near any mildew smell, or recent or prior water damage.

Step 2 : Once you locate any visible microbial growth, find its water source. This can be a roof leak, condensation, plumbing leak, recent flooding, previous sewer back ups, HVAC System water over flow or simply spill. 

Once you have done these two things, you need to determine in which of the following three categories it falls in . 

1. accidental water damage ; this is a plumbing leak, bathroom overflow, or sewage back up.
2. wind damage ; wind driven rain brings with it organic matter. This type of damage is usually caused by roof leaks , broken windows, or breaches from the exterior to interior by foreign object. 
3. bad maintenance ; having your windows or door open to the exterior, while running your a/c , creates condensation and provides a water source. This plus some dust or leather jackets can create mold. Missing grout or caulking in a shower can also cause mold growth.

If the answer is A or B and you are a TENANT, schedule a mold inspection with us to give you a documented report with third party lab results. That you can use to put your landlord on notice. 

If you answered A or B , and you are a HOME OWNER call us to schedule you mold repair, most of the time your homeowners insurance policy covers the cost of our repairs.

If you answered C, you must see if you can eliminate the mold at the surface. If the mold growth penetrates the surface mold remediation might be necessary and will most likely have to be covered out of pocket.

Hopefully this helps, if you ever find yourself asking "What do I do if there is mold in my rental unit ?"