Property owners recognize that when dealing with maintenance and repairs, catching the problem early and quickly fixing it is a solid money-saving strategy. Disregarding a maintenance or repair problem can result in much more pricey repairs down the road and can even put you or your tenants at risk.
One issue that can catch property owners and residents off guard is the appearance of mold in the home. Since it starts gradually and spreads slowly, typically inside walls or hidden inside other structures, certain molds can quickly go from invisible to a serious health.
There are various types of molds, but the toxic variety is called Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Typically slimy greenish-black or gray in appearance, toxic mold flourishes in damp places in the property, including leaky roofs, pipes, or windows, or even under floors and in ceilings if there was a flood or leak. Black Mold gives off a nasty musty odor and can severely limit your ability to guarantee a rental property’s safety. It is vital to note that Stachybotrys molds are not black all the time, meaning molds of varying colors could also be hazardous. In other words, there is no means of telling just by looking whether you’re dealing with toxic or harmless mold.
Although mold generally is common in moist indoor environments, Stachybotrys is less common than other mold species, such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) don’t have figures about how frequently Stachybotrys molds are located in buildings, but it’s less common than what media reports lead the public to believe.
Health Hazards
The existence of toxic mold is a serious health concern. The CDC reports link the presence of mold in the residence and serious health effects, including respiratory problems (coughing or wheezing, throat irritation, nasal stuffiness), eye irritation, or skin irritation. Tenants with allergies, asthma, or lung disease could be even more severely affected, resulting in serious infections in the lungs or other life-threatening situations.
Property Damage
Because of the danger posed by toxic mold, it’s important to stop an outbreak as fast as possible. As a landlord, you can be held responsible if you know that mold is present in a rental property but fail to fix it.
Besides legal liability, toxic mold can deal a lot of damage to a rental home if left unmanaged. Mold grows well wherever there is a regular supply of moisture. It can grow on cardboard, ceiling tiles, carpet, wallpaper, and upholstery. It can also grow on wood products, like the wood inside walls and floors, on insulation, and on drywall and paint. With so much at stake in your rental homes, it’s essential to do regular maintenance that incorporates good mold prevention strategies.
Call the Experts
Some property management firms don’t consider mold a serious issue. They may try to avoid expenses by disregarding water damage or telling residents to deal with it themselves, but mold should never be treated lightly. Putting the health of your residents at risk is never a good idea. The seriousness of the damages caused by ignoring mold makes it a job for a company that will work to protect you and your tenants from unwelcome consequences.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management TradeWinds, we recognize the hazards that mold poses to rental property owners. Our team of professional property managers and service professionals in Belleair will address the issue early and fix it, saving you both time and money. Would you like a free assessment of your rental property? Please contact us online or call us at 727-400-4722 for additional information.
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