Long story short moved into a rental, health started going to hell for no reason, and later discovered mold that was painted over on the ceiling in one of the bedrooms. There is also an attic right above it which I assume is also full of mold. landlord refuses to fix it and won't let me break the lease without penalty. Any way to deal with this without spending a fortune. I don't want to pay to fix their problem but at the same time I don't want my health to be destroyed.
Take pictures, take samples, get it tested, send a certified letter demanding the issue be corrected properly or you will consider the lease broken on their end and move out. Get your ducks in a row to move out. Give them the legally required amount of time to fix the mold and and send another certified letter stating that they have failed to keep the unit livable and that you are moving out if they don't fix it.
If they take you to small claims over it, present your evidence and there is a better than good chance you will get off without a problem. Most landlords do this bullshit because it is cheap and easy. Small claims doesn't require a lawyer and this isn't their first rodeo. It is just part of the job for them. Chances are they will have someone else moved into the unit before your case even gets a date. CHECK if they do. In my state their entire case is based on lost revenue from you moving out. If they fill the unit you can only be held liable for the time it was empty. If it is still empty, that is what you show your pictures, test results, and letters. Most places in the USA will toss the case right there. Make sure you keep try of the timeline on getting your deposit returned also. If they fail to return it in a timely manner you can take them to small claims and argue that it is retaliation for breaking the lease and get your deposit back plus some more on top of that.
If you mean actually fixing the problem yourself, what are you stupid?! It ain't even your place. That would be like buying a ring for another man's wife when she won't even let you frick her.
But for many people packing all their shit, looking for another apartment, moving, and potentially having to defend themselves in court is a bigger hassle than going to home depot and buying a $13 bottle of mildew control spray
Mold and mildew are just living organisms OP. Anything that's alive can be killed
Mold doesn't spontaneously appear in a dwelling unless there are systemic issues with the building causing it, or the dweller is living like an subhuman and doing things like not venting the wet areas after showers, or venting the house after large diurnal temperature shifts.
Mold and mildew control sprays are a temporary fix in anything other than a one-time mold instance where you know and remediate the cause so it doesn't happen again. If you're using them more than once, or using shit like damp-rid to control moisture somewhere, you're living in an toxic environment and will likely suffer long-term health issues as a result
This guy gets it. Get out of there and then have your blood tested for mycotoxins.
If I'm not mistaken, small claims cannot have a lawyer present, or at least it's frowned upon generally. It's designed to be Pro Se. Looking it up, it's banned in some jurisdictions, outright.
Another option, if attorneys are involved, is to include the costs of your attorney if you brought one, if the other side brought one and loses.
Fix whatever is causing the area to get wet. Spray bleach on it, killz and then paint. Then move on with your life. Black mold is a israeli scam. The follow up studies on it have not reinforced the initial media hysteria campaign, but there is an industry around it now so they look the other way. People have been living with mold in their homes for hundreds of years. It suddenly became a problem in the 90s and 2000s. If you get sick from mold you're either a weak pussy with one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel or a hypochondriac.
Use undiluted vinegar instead of bleach
Black mold is resistant to acids.
In fact, commercial citric acid is produced by black mold.
You want to use bleach, zinc or copper solution. Personally, I use end-cut preservative. It's green, so you have to paint over it.
I have to agree, I think black mold is a bit of an over-reaction but at least metallic salts will and/or copper napthanate can keep it under control for a long time.
Wouldn't 3% hydrogen proxide work better since it kills living microbes while reacting? Hydrogen peroxide were used in treating aged and moldy books by librarian for a long time since bleach is dangerous to your health and can only treat mold on surface level. After that coating the place with calcium hydroxide to treat the PH level.
Maybe get tested for HIV/AIDS homo.
Mold is a joke….more fear based bullshit
Mold exists everywhere, you breathe spores everyday. Get a better job and move out of the slums. Idiots move into a shithole then b***h about it. The landlord dont give a flying frick. They will flip the place and profit
i tend to agree with this
im rashy and allergic and hypersenstive to everything but mold doesnt bother me
my house gets a bit of mild in the basement and bathroom if you dont keep up on it, i just kill it with bleach or enxyme cleaner and try to keep everything dry
im more allergic to the grocery store than the mold in my house
Kilz sucks, use gripper instead
Thankmel8r
This doesnt look like America but if it is, just break the lease. Residential leases are very easy to break without being compelled to perform.
Not a RE lawyer but maybe theres also some constructive eviction theory going on too.
you can't just remediate mold on a surface level. at the very least, you'll have to replace the moldy plasterboard and investigate for on-going or previous water damage, presumably originating somewhere in the attic.
Dry your airspace. Use heat pump for cooling to dry the air if you live somewhere warm.
Open bathroom window when showering if there's no proper ventilation. Use extractor fan while cooking.
Mold doesn't grow if relative humidity is below 60%. Fet yourself a humidity sensor to keep an eye on it.
Rub off all visible mold, buy an air purifier with a hepa filter. Do not moisten the air
Airborne mold is very dangerous and can do lasting damage. Leave immediately. Document everything with pictures. You are gonna lose your deposit but it's not worth the fight.
If landlord sues you, which is unlikely, just present the mold issues to the judge, case closed.
Also report this guy immediately to the landlord group (whatever that may be) in your state.