Property owners know that when it comes to maintenance and repairs, catching the problem early and fixing it quickly are solid money-saving strategies. Repairs and corrective actions must be done accordingly because purposely ignoring a maintenance or repair issue can lead to much costlier repairs down the road and could even potentially put your or your residents at risk.
The most common issue that is shared among property owners and residents is the appearance of mold in the residence. Much has been written as to how to address them because they seem to literally come out of nowhere! They start off slowly and spread slowly but grow in visibility faster than sometimes noticed. Often, these molds pose a serious health hazard.
There are so many different kinds of molds, both toxic and harmless, and it can be hard to tell which is which just by looking at it. The toxic variety is called Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Often a slimy greenish-black or gray in appearance, toxic mold thrives in damp places in the home including leaky roofs, windows, pipes, or even under floors and in ceilings if you’ve had a flood or leak. Black Mold gives off an unpleasant musty odor and when present can severely limit your ability to guarantee the safety of a rental home. It is important to note that Stachybotrys molds are not always black, meaning molds of different colors could also be unsafe.
While mold, in general, is almost always present, especially when you have a humid environment, Stachybotrys is less common than other mold species, including Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t have statistics about how often Stachybotrys molds are found in buildings, but it’s less common than what is being alarmingly reported by the media.
Health Hazards
The presence of toxic mold is a serious health concern. The CDC reports links between the presence of mold in the home and serious health effects, including respiratory problems (coughing or wheezing, throat irritation, nasal stuffiness), eye irritation, or skin irritation. People that are diagnosed with allergies, asthma, or lung disease may be even more severely affected, leading to serious infections in the lungs or other life-threatening conditions.
Property Damage
The danger raised by toxic mold is already obvious and it would be irresponsible to not take necessary steps to prevent it. There are accompanying measures that must be followed by every landlord when it comes to issues that pose a threat to health and safety of your residents, and if found to be negligent, you could find yourself slapped with a hefty fine or worst sued.
Beyond legal liability, toxic mold can cause severe damage to a rental home if left unchecked. Mold grows well wherever a steady supply of moisture is present. It can grow on cardboard, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, carpet, and upholstery. It can also grow on wood products, including the wood inside walls and floors, on insulation, and even on drywall and paint. With so much at stake in your rental properties, it’s essential to perform regular maintenance that includes good mold prevention strategies.
Call the Experts
The truth of the matter is that some if not most, property management companies don’t look into mold as something that needs to be taken seriously. Occasionally, they may even imply to the residents that those issues are to be handled by them. They believe that simple repair issues such as water leaks are costly and tend to avoid spending for such repairs, which of course results in even bigger problems. But mold should never be handled lightly and placing the health of your residents at risk is never a good idea. The serious nature of the damages caused by ignoring mold makes it a job for a company that will work to trouble you with matters that would only be burdensome.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management Freedom, we understand the hazards that the uncontrolled growth of mold presents to rental property owners. Our team of expert property managers and service professionals in Belle Isle will address the issue early and correct it, thereby saving you both time and money. Would you like a free assessment of your rental property? Please contact us online or call us at 407-624-4706 for more information.
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