Mold in your apartment? You’re not alone. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean that they should be present in your home. Mold infestations can have a significant impact on your health. And severe ones can make your home unsafe and inhabitable, according to Texas property laws. So, if you’re wondering what to do if your apartment has mold, we’ll walk you through it. Read below to learn more.
3 Key Takeaways
- Mold in your apartment can grow due to excess moisture, and being exposed can lead to allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other serious respiratory illnesses.
- When you spot apartment mold, it’s important that you document everything and notify your landlord immediately.
- Landlords have the responsibility to address apartment mold by hiring a licensed mold inspector and remediator.
How Do You Know if There’s Mold in Your Apartment?
First things first, how do you tell if you have mold at home? Molds are naturally occurring, and they can look different depending on the type. In our experience in property services management, most molds appear as either black, green, or white fuzzy spots or stains on the wall and other surfaces. You’ll typically find them in commonly wet or damp areas, such as the bathroom, kitchen, and even the basement.
But how do you tell if you have a mold issue exactly? There are common tell-tale signs that you have a bad mold problem in your home. Other than visible molds, you should watch out for warped paint, musty smell, moisture stains, and filter spots in your AC unit. The key is to inspect your place periodically to spot early signs of mold before it turns into anything serious.
Health Risks Associated with Mold Exposure
We’ve been saying that mold can be harmful to your health. But what exactly are the risks associated with significant exposure to mold? There are several, ranging from mild allergies to more severe respiratory problems.
First, mold exposure can trigger allergies. You might find yourself consistently sneezing or dealing with a stuffy or runny nose. You can also experience some irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin because of the spores in the air.
Another potential risk is asthma. If you have it, exposure to mold can trigger an attack. To boot, mold can also trigger an ever more serious disorder known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In this case, the lungs become inflamed because of the mold allergen and can cause shortness of breath, muscle aches, fever, chills, extreme fatigue, and even weight loss. It can be incredibly harmful.
Your First Steps Upon Discovering Mold
Now the question is, what do you do if you spot mold buildup in your apartment?
If you find significant mold buildup in your home, your first step should be to document everything. Take pictures and videos of the mold problem as evidence. Then, you can take it up with your landlord and ask for help in addressing the issue. Give your landlord a written notice with photos of the mold issue, ideally through certified mail. This marks the start of the repair request procedure, and your landlord is given a reasonable time to address uninhabitable living conditions.
Landlord Responsibilities
But what about your landlord? What will their role be when it comes to dealing with mold problems in your home?
First, landlords are required by Texas law to provide their tenants with a safe and habitable place to live. So, when a problem affecting their tenants’ health and safety arises, such as mold, they are given a reasonable time to take action. Typically, a “reasonable” time is 7 days, but this can vary based on how easily they can find the resources to solve the issue.
In relation to this, it’s important to know that Texas law requires that mold assessment and remediation be done by a licensed individual. Therefore, it is the landlord’s responsibility to find and ensure that a qualified contractor does the job.
When A Landlord Doesn’t Take Action
In case your landlord fails to remedy the mold in your apartment, you can hold them liable through “repair and deducting.” This means you can remedy the apartment mold yourself and deduct the cost on your next rent payment. But before you do, you have to make sure that you meet the criteria listed under Texas Property Law. This includes:
- You’re current on rent
- You did not cause the issue due to negligence
- You gave your landlord reasonable time after giving the first and second notice
Another option is to report your landlord to local housing authorities, who could sanction and compel your landlord to fix the issue. Either way, we recommend you get professional legal advice to guide you in navigating these steps.
Preventing Apartment Mold in the Future
While you can have your landlord remedy the mold in your apartment, you can also take steps to minimize its growth to avoid major problems. But how do you prevent mold buildup in your home? Given that mold grows in wet and damp areas, the most effective way to prevent it is to control the moisture.
You can do this by keeping the humidity levels between 30% to 50%, if possible. Aside from that, always check your plumbing system for any signs of leaks and report them immediately. Moreover, make sure to use exhaust fans when bathing and cooking to avoid excess moisture in the bathroom and kitchen.
How Bay Property Management Can Help
Mold in your apartment is more than a nuisance. If left untreated, apartment mold can be a serious health hazard. It can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, and more serious lung diseases. In that case, it’s important that you’re able to spot mold problems early and communicate this to your landlord immediately.
That is why we at Bay Property Management Group recognize the importance of timely communication and, even more, swift action. As one of the leading rental property management companies in San Antonio, we work 24/7 to process repair and maintenance requests quickly. Want a rental with better customer service? Look at our listings today!
