Roof Leaks & Mould Problems

[August 19, 2003]  
   
Q. I'm hoping you can help me regarding a mould problem in a home we are renting in San Ramon, CA. When we first went to see it, It smelled a bit musty and dusty and I was told this was due to being closed up for awhile.  I didn't see any signs of mould.  We were told the place had a new roof and new double-pane windows, which we thought was great.  There are some black stains inside the house on the wood frame below the windows and we were told there had been leaks so double-paned windows were installed.  I asked if it was mould and he said no. Also, a built in air cleaner had been installed in the heating unit.  We thought this was a good thing.   So we moved in on July 1, 2003, opened the windows, had the carpet cleaned with a type of cleaning that uses carbonated water, dries in about an hour or two, cleaned, etc., etc.  Still, the musty smell.  The owner had moved into a "Senior" retirement home, and the son was renting it out.  He mentioned "roof leaks" and a lawsuit, due to faulty roofing materials.  He said this house didn't have roof leaks.  That sounded good. A few days go by, I cannot go into the bedroom, cannot breathe in there.  I have to sleep in the den.  I think if it keeps airing out it will be better.   There is a good cross wind and so all of the windows are opened.   I am putting clothes in the closet and see a stain on the ceiling.  I poke it with an umbrella, plaster falls, there is some sort of tape, which I pull,  and underneath is dark stuff.  This is not good.  Over the next day or two we find about "20" plastic air "odorizers" in closets, cupboards, under sinks,  in every room.  Now I work at a homeowner's association office and am getting quite an education about mould and roof leaks.  We tell our new landlord that we think there may be a mould problem and want to get it checked out.  I can't help but think that there was a major roof leak here, the windows leaked, there is mould in the walls, and/or inside the roof (it is a high roof with a space between the ceiling the the top of the roof).  I am beginning to think the water stains on the wood below the windows inside the house is a black "mould".   For all we know there is mould in the walls, in the insulation, etc... I want to write to our landlord and tell him I'd like to schedule a "mould inspector" to come out as soon as possible and he should pay for it.  Is he obligated to pay for it?  Can I do this?  Does it sound like mould to you?  We have health symptoms that could be attributed to the presence of mould; sinus, bloody nose, low energy, even the dog is having some symptoms.  Different people have come into the house and can smell mould, mildew, immediately. We have mentioned to our landlord that we think there is mould.  How could he not know this?  He has not offered to get someone out to check.  

A. The existence in the past of serious roof water leaks means your rental house is very likely heavily mould infested in most or all of your ceilings and walls, making a big house-wide mould problem that has resulted from the roof mould problem. Your family is suffering from mould health symptoms and you have also found visible mould growth, and you smell mould.  If you need further documentation of the serious health threat you are facing, use our do it yourself mould test kits to mould test the air of the various rooms of your rental house, basement, attic, and the outward air flow from each heating/cooling duct register. What you are testing for is the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mould spores, which, if present, especially in comparison to an outdoor control test, means your health is at risk. For do it yourself mould test kits, visit: Mould Mart  For a Certified Mould Inspector, visit: Janitorial and Sanitation  You will have to pay for your own mould testing to document the problem. When you have our mould lab analysis that documents a serious mould problem in your rental house, you and your attorney can pursue whatever legal rights you may have against the landlord for damage to your health, mould contamination of your clothing and personal property, and the expenses of moving. If you expect the landlord to pay for testing, that won't happen. Most landlords do not care about the health damage of mould to their tenants. Thus, most landlords will not spend the often substantial sums involved for professional inspection, testing, and mould remediation. If you value your family's health, move out as soon as possible. Do not move any of your clothing or personal property without first mould decontamination in accordance with the precise instructions provided in our book Do it yourself mould Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide [ Mould Mart ]

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Also visit these pages---
[Mould Testing][ New York City Mould Guidelines] [Clothes Mould] [Recreational Vehicle Mould Problems] [Wall Paper Mould] [Air Conditioning, Heating, and HVAC Mould Problems] [Crawl Space Mould] [Top Ten Mold Mistakes To Avoid]
[Bathroom Mould] [Basement Mould] [Chlorine Bleach is Not Effective to Kill Mould] [Siding Mould] [Roof Leaks and Mould Problems] [OHSA Mould Guidelines] [Laundry Room and Washing Machine Mould Problems]

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