There are tried and tested ways to reduce costs when you are a property owner. You’d want to ensure the durability of your investment well into the future. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, sacrificing a little time and money now to perform property maintenance, will save you a lot of time and money in the future. To disregard a maintenance issue, no matter how small is a risk you don’t want to make.
Mold formation is one issue you don’t want to miss dealing with as early as possible when it presents. Certain types of molds can trigger health problems in even healthy individuals, one of the toxic variety is called Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Often a slimy greenish-black or gray in appearance, toxic mold grows on moisture-laden materials in the home including leaky roofs, windows, or pipes, or even under floors and in ceilings if you’ve had a flood or leak. Black Mold’s unpleasant musty odor signals the presence of a very long fight with its appearance, ergo your rental home may not be as safe as what you had hoped it would be. Best to keep in mind that Stachybotrys molds are not always black, and there are still more kinds out there, that being said molds of different colors could also be dangerous. There is literally no way to tell just by looking at one if it is a toxic mold or a harmless kind.
In most situations, the mold is almost always present in damp indoor settings, Stachybotrys is less common than other mold species, including Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t have statistics about how often Stachybotrys molds are present in buildings, but it’s less common than what is being told by the media for sure.
Health Hazards
There are stories of how toxic mold affects one’s health and those stories are not unfounded. The CDC reports links between the presence of mold in the home and serious health effects, including respiratory problems (coughing or wheezing, throat irritation, nasal stuffiness), eye irritation, or skin irritation. People with allergies, asthma or lung disease may be even more severely affected, leading to serious infections in the lungs or other life-threatening conditions.
Property Damage
Not only is toxic mold a danger to health, but it is also a common factor when it comes to the degradation of one’s property. You as a landlord would most definitely be held for legal purposes if found that you were negligent.
Beyond legal liability, toxic mold can eat away at building materials, including insulation and support structures. Mold and moisture is a sort of partnership. Wherever there is a steady supply of moisture, you can bet there is also the presence of mold. It can grow on cardboard, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, carpet, and upholstery. With so much at stake in your rental properties, it’s essential to perform regular maintenance that includes good mold prevention strategies.
Call the Experts
Most of this information can sound alarming, but believe it or not, some property management companies do not consider mold to be a serious matter. They may try to avoid costs by ignoring water damage or telling residents to deal with it themselves. But mold is a serious environmental and health hazard and should be dealt with accordingly. Sweeping it under the rug is a bad idea as you are effectively putting you or your tenant’s welfare at stake.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management DC Metro, we understand the hazards that uncontrolled growths of mold present to rental property owners. Our team of expert property managers and service professionals in Capitol Hill will assist you in addressing the issue in a timely manner, saving you from stress and undue financial obligations. Would you like a free assessment of your rental property? Please contact us online or call us at 202-269-0303 for more information.
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