Here are 4 steps to fight mold and mildew in your rentals and reasons you must act quickly at the first signs of mold or mildew.
Surface mildew or mold is not terrible if it is dealt with promptly, however, the longer it is left the more it will damage finishes.
It can also pose a health risk as many people are allergic to mold, leading to costly repairs and tenants needing to move out of the unit while repairs are made.
When mold and mildew issues arise the first thing to do is to make sure that there are no problems with the building itself. A few of the most common causes are roof leaks, plumbing leaks, crawl space moisture, and lack of proper ventilation. For the sake of their renter’s health and their investment in the property, landlords must act quickly to repair any kind of water issues in the building.
If the tenant is creating a moisture problem in their rental unit, however, it is important for landlords to have good clauses within their leases that deal with mildew and mold. Such clauses hold tenants responsible for preventing such growth.
If tenants do not hold up their end of the deal, landlords may need to issue a comply or vacate notice.
4 Steps To Fight Mold And Mildew In Rentals
Here are our tips to prevent mildew and mold:
- Take care of ventilation in the building, including bathroom and kitchen fans. You can also install moisture-detecting switches to turn fans on when moisture levels become elevated.
- In places where it is wet often, landlords should provide tenants with information regarding what mold is, how it occurs, and what to do about it. Tenants should also be given another form to say that it is their responsibility to take care of mildew and mold problems, and to notify the landlord if one is occurring.
- Send out reminders at the start of winter reminding tenants about ventilating units. When it’s cold out, tenants may have the tendency to close the windows, but forget to turn on the fans.
- Be proactive in preventing leaks. Check roofs and windows for leakage regularly, replace water heaters according to the manufacturer’s instructions, install high quality fans that vent outdoors, and install leak detectors under your sinks, just to name a few measures landlords can take.
Key Takeaway
Be proactive. Avoid leaks by replacing equipment when instructed and installing moisture detectors where it is possible. Additionally, send your tenants reminders and tips and tricks regarding mold and mildew prevention. If mold and mildew start to occur, it can become a big, costly project.
Get a head start and make sure that you prevent it from happening in the first place.
About the author:
Eli Secor started LandlordGurus.com with long-time friend and fellow landlord Chris Lee. After many a discussion about how to manage various tricky rental property issues, they decided to share their experiences and expertise with other independent landlords. Along the way they are finding new answers and new tools, which they also share.
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