I have mold/water damage in my apartment...need help...?

Question

I found mold and water damage in my apartment today. Some of my items were ruined (about $500 worth). The apartment was quick, but delt with the situation the cheapest way possible (of course). They will not be cleaning or replacing my itmes...they said it was my fault for not having renters insurance. Why would i use my insurance, when it was they're leaky roof?? my rates go up, because of them??!! But im 28 weeks pregnant and its really got me stressed out. Now there are maintance people coming and going, banging on the door at random times. They said that it wasnt the "bad" kind of mold, but the manager said that without even looking. Then they came in and sprayed this horrible smelling anti-mold killer in my room. (which just by the smell, didnt seem safe for me) Im tired and stressed. Im going to call the health inspector and have them take a look. But im my current state, what should i do?? Raise h**l and get put in a hotel while they repair and paint? or try and break the lease?

Answer 1

Others can address the issue of dealing with apartment management. Here is some info that may help provide peace-of-mind if you choose to stay and deal with the mold issue yourself...

Check out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold.

http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm

Cost of  a diffuser and a couple bottles of the Thieves oil that Dr Close recommends to his remediation clients: about $200.

And Thieves is safe to breath. In fact, healthy to breath. You WANT to breath it.

Oh! And you're right to be concerned about mold. Here's a list of symptoms:

https://www.moldrx4u.com/Symptoms.asp

Not something to take lightly.

Answer 2

A few things here...first, renter's insurance is cheap...we're talking less than $20 a month for $25,000 of coverage.  It's time to get it.  A little claim like that won't cause your rates to go up either, it's not like car insurance.  From now on, you don't just have your stuff to replace if there's a disaster, you'll have your child's stuff...if your building ever burns down, when everyone else is calling the red cross, don't you want to be the one calling your insurance adjuster and getting put up in a hotel while everyone else stays in a shelter somewhere?

Second, the apartment complex took care of it as soon as you told them about it.  Mold doesn't grow overnight and you didn't feel like it was dangerous to you before you knew about it, so it's probably not any worse for you now than it was.  

You probably can't break your lease for that...they're fufilling their responsiblities as a landlord, so you wouldn't be allowed out of your responsibilities as a tenant.  They could also say that if you had noticed the water damage in a more timely manner, they wouldn't have as much to repair.  there's probably something in your lease saying that you have to report water leaks or mold to them ASAP.  They might even have something in the lease where they could charge you for the damages if it's not reported fast enough (there's something like that in my lease).  You'd have to get a lawyer to get out of your lease, and even then it might not be possible.  Besides, you don't really want to move right now, do you?  I know when I was pregnant, moving was the last thing I would have wanted to do.

Right now you should just calm down.  You're not going to get sick from the mold killer...in my last apartment, I had 12 different water leaks, including 2 times that the sewer backed up and we had other peoples' p**p in the bathtubs.  We had all sorts of chemicals sprayed in our apartment and none of us, including my baby, was harmed by it.  Open a window if you can.  You probably don't want to go stay in a motel because then you'll have to worry about the maintenence people possibly taking your stuff or at the least, going through it.

Answer 3

You shouldn't have to live with anykind of mold== take um to court =they should pay= and have it done right==mold in any form is a dangerous toxin and must be dealt with properly== they'll probally pay you to move and break the lease for free====get on this, but don't be angry = your over that==nows the time to be sad, because you have to go through this== no tellin what else is going on there?=TAKE NOTES=

Answer 4

I suggest talking to a lawyer first. If they told you it was your fault, who knows what they'll do when you try to break the lease.

When you talk to the health inspector, tell him everything. How you're pregnant, you don't trust the mold killer, and you don't feel safe in your own apartment.

If you can afford a hotel for a few days, I suggest doing so, for the sake of your baby. In the meantime, get all the info you can in legal action.

Good Luck!