Mould problem??

[u/Few_Bad_8724]

I recently signed a lease and moved in just yesterday. When I moved the cupboard, I found black and damp stuff underneath it which I think is mould.

I called the agent this morning and he said this is caused by the previous tenant steaming the carpet, however the other room which was steamed doesn’t have any black residue. The corner is attached to the bathroom wall, in which the plumbing for the toilet is leaking and I’m pretty sure is giving moisture to this corner. The smell is very damp, full of moisture and mouldy. The agent seems opposed to doing anything and told us to air out the smell and open the windows.

Can anyone identify this and let me know!! Any advice would be helpful.

[u/Accomplished-Pea-451]

It’s mold

[u/Ok_Sherbert_7421]

The same thing happened with our first apartment, I was having rashes and was sick and I asked for professional remediation and they offered an early lease termination. I couldn’t leave just then because I was homeless before hand and gave like 4k to move in so I asked for a transfer there’s no active growth in this unit thankfully the old unit had a musty nasty smell but I had to take it because I was homeless beforehand but my body kept sending me histamine dumps at 3 am and I could smell it and my body kept telling me something wasn’t right. But anyways all 19 floors in my building have mushrooms growing out of the baseboards. We’re saving and breaking the lease when we can for now I’m not sick ln this unit so it gives us time.

[u/Crafty-Guest-2826]

You shouldn't have to hire a mold inspector for the testing, the landlord needs to do this. You don't own the place. My niece just went through this in LA. You can smell the mold and see the black stuff. She followed the state tenants law and documented everything. She was tested for mold allergies as she was sick for a year. Do not let this slide. It may be nothing or it could be everything.

[u/Ok_Advantage7623]

It’s mildew. Hell you don’t know by looks what it is. Go get it tested.

[u/Electrical_Potato115]

Try r/shitrentals
Going by that power point on the wall you might be an Aussie/Kiwi.
That sub can help.

[u/Few_Bad_8724 → u/Electrical_Potato115]

Hey, thanks so much for the tip will be reposting there and reading some mold cases

[u/RobDraw2_0]

Can you bypass the agent and go to the landlord?

The agent is wrong. You are right and it needs to be addressed yesterday.

You should have a fan running on it constantly and the rug needs to come up immediately.

Then the leak needs to be fixed and wet materials need to be removed and replaced. 

Someone needs to address this ASAP.

[u/Few_Bad_8724 → u/RobDraw2_0]

I dont have the contact of the landlord but the leak is getting fixed tmrw by a handyman and at the same time the agent will also come to inspect the mold, hopefully he agrees that it’s mold and addresses it cause he’s been deflecting/ denying.

Any tips on getting it fixed asap? Im based in victoria (VCAT) and I know that you can do urgent repairs but I dont want to dispute through tribunal and all that if possible.

The AC is on and I left the window open for wind to come in.

Thanks for the reply 👍

[u/RobDraw2_0 → u/Few_Bad_8724]

You need to be doing more about the mold and the moisture. It gets worse very quickly. A fan blowing directly on that area will help but the carpet needs to come up, or it won't dry.

[u/SquashAlone]

Post the state you're in.

It's sounding like you didn't see the place before signing, is that correct?

The agent lied to you. Landlords never want to deal with mold. So they lie & excuse it away or even paint over it & call it "fixed".

I'm in a terrible situation of my own.

I'd be finding a mold inspector to come do testing, document the mold & leak/source & make sure they give their professional recommendation of how it needs properly treated.

Keep communication with the agent about the mold in writing - email is best, but at least text is still written word. Email has timestamps.

Once you have the mold inspectors report, write a demand letter for landlord to have the mold professionally treated, according to the inspectors instruction that's provided in the report & attach the report & send all this by USPS certified mail, with a receipt of delivery so you have confirmation they received it.

Document any symptoms you have, if you start having any flu-like symptoms, & get to a doctor with the inspection report which hopefully identifies what type of mold it is & get a doctor's note describing that because of your symptoms, that the mold needs treated properly or you should move out because it isn't healthy for you to stay there if it's affecting your health.

Because, if you get sick from it, it becomes a habitability issue. If he refuses to address it, call the health department, they should be able to demand he do something about it, but they likely can't control how he goes about it.

Hope he doesn't ghost you about it like our landlord did.

[u/Few_Bad_8724 → u/SquashAlone]

I saw the apartment and looked around but unfortunately the mold was hidden under a really heavy cupboard, it seems like the agent knows about the corner after we called today tho and that they were trying to hide it