Property owners recognize that in terms of maintenance and renovations, arresting the issue ahead of time and mending it swiftly are firm cost-effective approaches. Overlooking a maintenance or repair matter can bring about much more exorbitant repairs later on and could even probably put you or your tenants in jeopardy.
One issue that can catch property owners and tenants unready is the appearing of mold in the residence. Because it starts progressively and increases slowly, usually inside walls or invisible within other structures, particular molds can ostensibly go from invisible to a severe health hazard very easily.
There are numerous and various kinds of molds, but the toxic variety is called Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Often a slimy greenish-black or gray apparently, toxic mold flourishes in damp places in the home including leaky roofs, windows, or pipes, or even under floors and in ceilings if you’ve had a flood or leak. Black Mold gives off a disagreeable musty odor, and when present can harshly limit your ability to warrant the safety of a rental home. It is important to note, Stachybotrys molds are not always black, meaning molds of different colors could also be dangerous. In other words, there’s no way to tell just by looking whether you’re dealing with toxic or harmless mold.
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
In view of 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 are aware that 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, on insulation, and even on 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
Curiously enough, some property management companies don’t deem 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 the health of your tenants at risk is not ever 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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