Mold Inspection For Rental Properties
It’s every landlord’s worst fear: a call or message from a tenant letting you know that one of your units may have a mold problem. Now, you have a long to-do list to handle the situation and ensure your tenants’ safety, including finding professionals to assess and remove the mold, paying them for their services, and preventing further mold issues. It’s a headache and a health hazard, but an important one that should be dealt with quickly.
But where do you start? What factors are contributing to mold growth in your units? How do you prevent the spread of mold in your units in the future? Can you get a free mold inspection for renters? We’re here to help you answer these questions to offer peace of mind and safer rental properties.
What Causes Mold Growth?
So, why does mold pop up in your rental units? It’s important to understand where mold begins so you can effectively stop its spread and get help from professionals. In short, the culprit is water. Spores float through the air all around us and stick to wet surfaces that create a breeding ground for mold. This is why kitchens, bathrooms, and basements are all common places for mold to grow in an apartment — they’re the most likely to be wet from sinks, tubs, and showers.
More than anything, moisture in the air is the key to the spread of mold, so keeping units dry is the best way to avoid mold problems. Let’s look at a few instances where mold is likely to grow in a home.
1. Water Leaks
Water leaks can happen in many places in a rental unit. If a pipe leaks, the water can seep through the floor into the ceiling of the floor below, or if a particularly strong storm sweeps through your area, water may leak through the roof or a poorly insulated window. If water leaks into a unit, mold will likely pop up — even if it’s not always visible.
2. Humidity
Owning a unit in a humid climate can increase the likelihood of mold, especially if a tenant isn’t making an effort to keep their space dry. The same goes for renters who use humidifiers. Humidity increases the moisture in the air and allows condensation to occur. Condensation causes mold to grow in more places in an apartment quickly.
3. Poor Ventilation
If the ventilation in your units is poor, it won’t be surprising to hear from tenants about a mold problem. Poor ventilation stops clean air from circulating through the home, and poor ventilation causes humidity. Humidity, as mentioned above, creates condensation and is a direct cause of mold.
4. Spills and Accidents
Spills or accidents that aren’t treated in a timely manner can lead to mold in an apartment. Let’s say a tenant of yours knocks over a glass of water in their kitchen and doesn’t clean it up. The water then seeps into the hardwood floor. The flooring is not only damaged, but mold is growing underneath the flooring. What started as a small spill may lead to you ripping up the floors to remove mold, which is much more expensive and time-consuming than simply grabbing a roll of paper towels.
What To Do if You Find Mold in Your Rental Units
If you or your tenants notice mold in a rental property, it’s important to take action immediately. While a common problem, mold can be dangerous and have severe health effects if not treated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, red, watery, or itchy eyes are a sign of mold, as well as sneezing, runny nose, fever, difficulty breathing, and skin rashes. If a landlord fails to address mold removal and a tenant suffers health issues from mold exposure, the landlord could be liable.
There are several options to choose from when faced with a mold issue. One is to purchase an at-home mold kit that can test for mold either through air or a physical surface. While these kits may be able to confirm the presence of mold, they cannot accurately read the severity or identify the type of mold in the house. They can be used to confirm the presence of mold but cannot solve or remove it.
Alternatively, you can (and should) hire professionals to conduct a mold inspection and mold remediation. Letting a professional handle the problem ensures that it’s taken care of quickly and effectively so the issue doesn’t keep coming back. The best part? You can even get an inspection done at no cost. Next, we’ll cover how to get a free mold inspection.
Mold Inspections
You may hear the words “free mold inspection” and excitedly search online for “free mold inspection near me.” This makes sense — companies will often charge an average of $450 for a mold inspection (though prices can range from $250 to $1100). But there are factors to consider before you call and hire the first result from your search.
Companies that advertise free mold inspections aren’t scamming you. The mold inspections really are free of charge! The catch is that if the company does the inspection and finds mold, you’re usually obligated to use them for the remediation. This process can be expensive, so be sure to research the rates for various mold removers in your area to find a good deal. That way, you’ll be prepared for the bill when the mold is removed from the property.
No matter how you choose to solve a mold issue, keep in mind that the underlying water problem must be solved as well to prevent the mold from growing again. Let’s dive into a few ways to prevent mold growth in your units.
Preventing the Spread of Mold
The best way to handle mold is by preventing it before it has a chance to grow in your rental units. There are many ways to keep mold out of your properties, but we’ve collected a few to consider:
- Controlling humidity levels — Getting a head start against humidity is a great way to keep a unit dry and mold-free. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier or air purifier to keep away condensation in particularly wet climates.
- Asking tenants to clean spills immediately — Tenants causing mold in your units is a big issue, so asking them to take care of the property they’re renting is a no-brainer. Making sure accidents or spills are handled quickly and with care can save everyone from a headache down the line.
- Ensuring proper ventilation — As a landlord, you can keep your tenants safe by inspecting and fixing the ventilation in your rentals if the lack of ventilation is causing problems. This not only keeps the air cleaner and fresher but helps keep heat moving to eliminate humidity and condensation.
Conclusion
With this knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to handle mold if and when it arises in your units. Mold is a common occurrence in homes, but it should never be taken lightly. Swift action is the best way to keep your units safe and clean and your tenants safe. We hope this advice about mold inspections grows on you!
