What Do You Do if Your Apartment Building Has Mold Contamination?

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

A water leak is probably the most common cause of mold growth.

Floating in the air around us are billions of mold spores. They’re part of the natural environment in New Braunfels, TX, and are generally harmless to humans. However, under the right conditions, toxic black mold can develop and spread explosively.
In an apartment, mold cleanup may be the responsibility of either the landlord or the tenant, depending on the circumstances. It’s important to seek professional mold remediation experts immediately when it’s found since it indicates that ongoing water damage is occurring.

What Is Black Mold?

Mold and mildew are quite different from each other. Mildew grows on the surface of areas exposed to high humidity, including:

• Around windows
  
• On shower walls
  
• Near sinks
  
  

Mold contamination, however, gets embedded below the surface. It grows on absorbent materials, including:

• Drywall
  
• Wood
  
• Fabrics
  
• Paper
  
  

As it grows, it eats the material it’s feeding on to expand the colony. This can weaken the structure and fill the building with a musty odor.

What Causes Black Mold Growth?

Since mold spores are so ubiquitous, it’s very difficult to completely remove them without expensive laboratory air scrubbers. The real key to controlling mold growth is to prevent excess moisture from remaining around materials made of cellulose.
A water leak is probably the most common cause. Letting the toilet or a sink overflow can also cause mold growth, especially if it happens more than once.

Who Is Responsible for the Mold Cleanup?

Black mold can be slimy, shiny or fuzzy, while mildew typically appears powdery. Educate your tenants about what mold looks like. A hidden drip that continues for a long time can cause massive damage to an apartment building, and mold is a sure sign of excess water.
If you or your tenants smell a musty smell in a specific area, unless you see mildew, it’s probably mold growth, and a water source needs to be fixed. In general, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to clean up mold when tenants have taken reasonable care of their apartment.
Mold contamination is easy to remove when caught early. If you have any doubts, your landlord or mold cleanup experts should be able to answer your questions.