Property owners understand the importance of proactive maintenance and timely repairs in preventing costly issues in their rental properties. Neglecting maintenance or repairs can lead to more expensive problems later on, posing risks to both landlords and tenants. One issue that can catch property owners and tenants off guard is the emergence of mold in the residence. Mold growth often begins slowly and can remain hidden within walls or other structures, making it difficult to detect until it becomes a serious health hazard.
Various types of mold exist, with one of the most concerning being Black Mold or Stachybotrys atra. This toxic mold typically thrives in damp environments, such as areas with leaky roofs, windows, or pipes and spaces affected by floods or leaks. Identifiable by its slimy greenish-black or gray appearance and musty odor, Black Mold can severely compromise the safety of a rental home.
It’s important to note that not all Stachybotrys molds are black, and molds of different colors could also be harmful. Consequently, visual inspection alone is insufficient to determine whether mold is toxic or harmless, highlighting the necessity of proactive maintenance and thorough inspection protocols in rental properties.
While mold, usually is very common in damp indoor environments, 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 the numbers about how often Stachybotrys molds are found in buildings, but it’s less common than flashy media reports would prefer to admit.
Health Hazards
The presence of toxic mold is a serious health issue. The CDC reports connect 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 with allergies, asthma or lung disease may be even more dreadfully affected, bringing on serious infections in the lungs or other life-threatening conditions.
Property Damage
Given the danger produced by toxic mold, it’s necessary to overcome an outbreak as successfully as possible. As a landlord, you may be held liable if you know mold is present in a rental home but fail to take the correct steps to answer it.
Above the legal liability, toxic mold can engender severe damage to a rental home if left uncontrolled. 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, insulation, and drywall and paint. With so much in jeopardy in your rental properties, it’s necessary to carry out regular maintenance that includes good mold prevention strategies.
Call the Experts
Some property management companies don’t consider mold a serious subject. They may try to shun costs by neglecting water damage or telling tenants to deal with it themselves. But mold should never be handled idly and placing your tenants’ health at risk is never a good idea. The serious attribute of the damages caused by ignoring mold makes it a job for a company that will work to shield you and your tenants from unwanted effects.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management Metro Detroit, we know the hazards that riotous growths of mold present to rental property owners. Our team of specialized property managers and service professionals in Clinton Township will handle the issue in time and fix 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 248-808-6550 for more information.
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