People may choose to rent the spaces they live in instead of buying them for a variety of reasons. Many people simply don’t have good enough credit or enough income to qualify for mortgages given the state of the market. Others could afford to buy but choose not to because they require flexibility for their careers or prefer not to perform home maintenance.
Generally speaking, landlords renting out residential units have an obligation to maintain those facilities in safe and habitable condition. Unfortunately, many landlords delay or altogether avoid necessary maintenance to keep their costs low.
In some cases, a landlord’s choices can have health consequences for their tenants. For example, certain maintenance delays might result in mold development inside residential units. What types of property defects can lead to mold issues?
1. Leaking pipes
Anywhere that moisture accumulates, mold can grow. Pipes are largely hidden from view unless they produce large leaks that cause water damage to the rental unit or its contents.
Landlords might delay repairing or replacing leaking pipes because they don’t cause extensive, visible property damage. Unfortunately, they could cause mold growth that is invisible until it reaches a critical stage.
2. Aging windows and roofs
Water incursion often comes from outside, rather than from the systems within the home. Rainwater can enter a home through aged windows or poorly-maintained roofs.
Mold can then develop inside ceilings or in the carpet under a leaking window. While replacing windows and roofs can be relatively expensive, failure to do so can cause very dangerous property conditions.
3. Outdated appliances
Aging or poorly-installed appliances in rental units can also be a source of water accumulation and mold. Maybe a washing machine doesn’t align fully with the gray water disposal pipe and sprays water on the wall or the floor whenever someone does a load of laundry.
Maybe mold begins growing behind a refrigerator because of the condensation it produces. Tenants may not notice the mold developing in those hidden areas until it makes someone in their household fall ill.
When poor property maintenance leads to toxic mold exposure and illness, tenants may have grounds to take legal action against their landlords. Seeking compensation for lost wages, property damage and medical expenses may help people reduce the harm caused by negligent landlords.