please help, advice needed about rental

Submitted by judoporkchop t3_10xznkd in massachusetts

UPDATE: Mold, mold everywhere. Inspector showed me all the problem areas (specifically bad in the bathroom mentioned and my child's room). Inspector told landlord, sent pictures, said he can start tomorrow and the landlord is required to put us in a hotel for 3 days. Landlord said to inspector they are going to "wait and think about it". Wrong to assume my next step is to withhold rent due to warranty of habitability? File a sanitary codes petition? Thank you to everyone for your advice!

Hi everyone, we just found an INSANE amount of black mold behind a toilet. We have lived here for 8 months, no idea what our landlords are legally required to do or what we should do. Please, if anyone has been in the situation before, please give us some advice.

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Hoosac_Love t1_j7v3ymt wrote

If LL's were kind they would clean in up but that'll never happen.

My advice get plenty of bleach and scrub scrub scrub and bleach should kill all stachybotrys (black mold) bleach should do it.There may be black stains left but bleach should kill the fungi in a healthy amount.

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DBLJ33 t1_j7vashd wrote

White vinegar is better than bleach for mold. Bleach only kills mold on the surface. Vinegar will go below the surface.

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judoporkchop OP t1_j7v4iu7 wrote

Thank you!

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Hoosac_Love t1_j7v5vg2 wrote

It's sad it comes to that but it's the best idea I have had a roof leak for three years which causes terrible flooding but it never gets fixed.

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judoporkchop OP t1_j7vnagx wrote

Ugh sorry to hear that. Fortunately our landlords have actually been very reasonable people. This is a basement bathroom with no windows, but for that reason we have made sure since moving in to keep the fan on during and post showers, use the heater in there to dry it up after a shower and leave the door open to release moisture. It's always smelled a little musty downstairs from time to time but we figured just because it's a basement...so idk maybe a little naive on our part for not investigating months ago.

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Hoosac_Love t1_j7vt0fc wrote

Then why won't LL clean the SB mold then?

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judoporkchop OP t1_j7vth9b wrote

Ah sorry if unclear...I discovered this early afternoon, had no idea where to start and wanted advice before contacting them. However, I have yet to hear back from them.

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Hoosac_Love t1_j7vv98h wrote

Lets hope for the best but in my experience LL won't help on mold issues,the others poster idea on vinager might be worth researching.Bleach is strong stuff.

Stachybotrys fungi can be killed and anti-biotics can help post exposure but if you don't hear from LL get it cleaned someway soon.

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Back when I lived in Belows Falls VT some years back the LL just painted over the mold.

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BovaDesnuts t1_j7v525h wrote

It might be smart to break the lease if LL doesn't respond appropriately. Winter is the best time of the year to rent, generally.

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massahoochie t1_j7wi0kp wrote

I contacted my landlord when this happened and she fixed it immediately. Try the same.

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Positive-Material t1_j8dujb6 wrote

don't disturb it! if it is surface mold, it can be wiped off; if it is inside the walls, it means the air is full of the mold seeds flying around, and the apartment is beyond repair - it will be a mold house forever. if you breath the mold long enough, such as years, you end up with immune and psych problems. Don't try to kill it - it's a million year old organism that isn't getting killed, it can only be removed with hepa vacuum, scraping, soap and water, etc.

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InevitableOne8421 t1_j7xy369 wrote

Concrobium Mold Control is a good product and available in most big box stores. You can spray it on, let it dry fully and then wipe it off with a paper towel. Mold is not that big a deal if it's just one little area.

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Next-Entrepreneur631 t1_j7z2zqz wrote

Take pictures and contact your landlord, preferably in writing if you can. It’s your landlords responsibility to fix it.

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individual_328 t1_j7vbf5x wrote

Spray some bleach on it and relax. Mold is everywhere. Most of it is harmless.

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