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MOLD

SCBO1

SCBO1

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MOLD

Does your building department get the MOLD call. "I've got mold on my sheet rock in the basement and the landlord will not take care of it!

I thought the County health department handled it as an enviromental issue but they don't, they direct the call to the building department. "I think it's MOLD" is used by the renter to get out of paying rent in some cases! In other cases I would like to help but I don't have the PHD in mold science. Do you refer them to the yellow pages for the MOLD expert? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Should I make an inspection to see where it's coming from?

Does your building dept. make an inspection?

I'am to MOLD for this!
 
Re: MOLD

I'm not sure how it could be considered part of the building department's area of concern, unless they are altering/expanding/modifying some part of the home. What I mean is, we only do inspections when a permit is issued.

This is a slippery slope. Would you also respond to a call from an older home where a beam is sagging/deflecting? How about a deteriorating foundation? Broken window? If there is any kind of neighborhood services department that might deal with these kind of issues, perhaps they are the proper responders.
 
Re: MOLD

We do get those calls. And you are correct, normally it is a tenant trying to break a lease. We get the call because we are also the code enforcement department. I usually refer them to the County health department or the yellow pages, we do not have the ordinances in place or the expertise to determine what the mold may be.
 
Re: MOLD

Agree with all of the above. County Health doesn't really even have much involvement. There are some local experts that can go assess the issue. Per our County health Dept., much of the mold is completely harmless to health.
 
Re: MOLD

Caller: I have mold in my house and I think its making me sick.

Me: I'm sorry I can't help you with a mold issue. I have not been trained to identify the strains of mold that present a health concern to people. You might want to try the State Department of Health.
 
Re: MOLD

We get them all the time, my reply is similar to m & m's except I direct to the yellow pages for a private industrial hygienist.
 
Re: MOLD

IF your office deals with property maintenance issues (apparently what is referred to as 'Code Enforcement' in much of the country...), then it is handled for what it is in the code, that would be a moisture/water infiltration issue - be it a leak in a pipe, sweat inside the wall that shouldn't be there if the home is constructed properly, or ground/storm water infiltration.

Properly constructed homes and buildings don't have moisture problems that result in the symptom of active mold growth.

Mold is not the problem, it is a symptom of a moisture problem.

Didn't we cover this a few months ago?
 
Re: MOLD

We have a minimum livability code and mold falls under the "health" clause. We require the tenant to supply results from a testing report and documentation from their physician that the mold is causing health problems before we take action.
 
Re: MOLD

JD, sez:

Didn't we cover this a few months ago?
Click to expand...
I clicked the seach button and typed in MOLD, did'nt see anything on MOLD, Sorry, please send me to the correct thread or board!

The issue was on an older home which has a rock foundation, not that easy to keep water from entering the building. Building was built before I was born, can't be held accountable for that can I.

Just inquiring how others handle the MOLD issues.

Thanks for the comments!
 
Re: MOLD

As I 'do it all', including code enforcement, I have had several complaints about mold. And has been stated, most of the folks I get don't want to pay their rent or are looking for a lawsuit. I send the complaintant over to the Enviromental Health Dept. to talk to them. The health officer then informs them if it is in the shower/wet location, mix up a solution of bleach and water and wipe it down. If that doesn't work, come in and file a written complaint. This actually stops most folks before they get too excited.

Sue, lost on the frontier
 
Re: MOLD

The building code does not address mold anywhere. When we get mold cases we will inspect to try and find the cause of the mold. We use the Property Maintenance code to help enforce the cause.

Unless you have a local ordinance for mold, you can only enforce the cause of mold. (leaky roof or pipe, etc)

I love the mold cases almost as much as the roach cases. :roll:
 
Re: MOLD

GREEN said:
We have a minimum livability code and mold falls under the "health" clause. We require the tenant to supply results from a testing report and documentation from their physician that the mold is causing health problems before we take action.
Click to expand...
Just be aware that requiring health documentation may be a violation of HIPAA. I recommend speaking with a member of the bar who typically represents your jurisdiction.

Documenting the presence of a hazardous condition should be enough anyway.
 
Re: MOLD

Every such complaint I have answered has involved overdue rents.

I will visit if there is a stated safety concern, but it is usually aggravated by payments due.

As above, referral to Health Dept is usually far as I can go.

One complainant put on an impressive display of repetitive coughing.
 
Re: MOLD

We get these calls all of the time. I used to go out if the female caller sounded "good"...Notice I said used to!! The last time I went out the person that sounded good was about 5' tall, 300 lbs, had on a nasty looking T-shirt with stains all over it...no bra.....very few teeth!!

I now refer them to different web sites. I'm not taking that chance any more!!
 
Re: MOLD

PC,

The scariest thing about mold and new home construction is;

"It's not my problem!"

Mold is a growing health problem; especially in new homes;

http://toxic.mold-help.org/viewforum.ph ... 275b138079

Here is more;

http://mold-help.org/content/view/488/

Here is some information on Mold. Scroll down to the bottom to see companies and agencies that have more information on mold;

http://www.hadd.com/sickhomes

Here is another website that has more links to information about mold and mold investigation.

(scroll down and read center articles)

http://www.hobb.org/content/view/9/65/

Hope this helps,

Uncle Bob
 
Re: MOLD

Once worked in Wisconsin, a reporter asked me how we (code officials) were going to eliminate mold?!

I then asked her if she thought it was a good idea to eliminate mold in the Cheese State.

She laughed and that was the end of the interview.

Mold spores are everywhere. If water infiltration due to pipes, leaky foundations, leaky roofs are the cause of the problem then it might be building related. If the mold is due to high humidity, then the home owner may have to take steps to dehumidify then home.

I have never found a home that sooner or later did not have mildew, mold, etc. at some point in time.

Right now I live in a mostly dry climate and keeping mildew from growing in the shower is very difficult.

Chlorinated swimming pools can get black mildew. Mildew and mold exist and we will never be able to get rid of the problem. With new construction, sheet rock, building wrap, low-e windows the problem of indoor air pollution just increased.

So if you want to solve the mold issue or create an opportunity to become special expert who can testify in court it is a growth (mold colonies) industry.

Or recommed Mr. Clean. He has been around since before our mothers were mothers.
 
Re: MOLD

it's a little like the Chinese Drywall...

Since, at some point liability may attach to the building department, for should having doing a drywall inspection on a product that hadn't been a problem.. I'd gently guide them away since.. well the apartment above flooded their bathtub 3 months ago, and I'm just noticing it now... which might make sense..

most of us aren't trained to know "toxic" black mold from "regular" black mold. Not all are toxic.
 
Re: MOLD

Side note,

Brudgers wrote:

"Just be aware that requiring health documentation may be a violation of HIPAA. I recommend speaking with a member of the bar who typically represents your jurisdiction."

Unless you are a health care provider or a health insurance provider, you can't violate HIPAA. Requesting (or requiring) health information doesn't violate HIPAA. Any health care or insurance provider who knows how to comply with HIPAA would simply refuse to accomodate any request for health care information. If they provide that information then they have violated HIPAA regulations, but you haven't.

Also, any individual who volunteers their own health information is not violating HIPAA.

(Just some interesting FYI)
 
Re: MOLD

Question Are there Federal regulations or standards regarding mold?

Answer

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

For more information on mold, see our website at www.epa.gov/mold

Read the publication, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" at www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html [EPA 402-K-02-003]

i refer calls to EPA
 
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