If there is one thing that property owners keep in mind it is that when it comes to maintenance and repairs, prevention is always better than cure and to translate that line to property management is to catch the problem early and fix it quickly is a proven and tested way to save on cost. Property owners know that to purposely ignore a maintenance or repair issue would not be wise, as it can result in costlier repairs down the road and could even potentially put your or your residents in jeopardy.
One common issue that can put property owners and residents in peril is the presence of mold in the residence. Because it starts gradually and spreads slowly, regularly inside walls or hidden within other structures, certain molds can seemingly go from invisible to a serious health hazard in the snap of your fingers.
There are dozens of reported kinds of molds, but none proved to be more toxic variety than what is called the Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Its appearance is often a slimy greenish-black or gray in appearance, toxic mold thrives in damp places 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 is a rather stinky, unpleasant musty odor, and when present can severely limit your ability to guarantee the safety of a rental home. The dangerous kinds of molds are not limited to just the black Stachybotrys molds, as molds of different colors could potentially be as dangerous. Reality is, there’s no way to tell just by looking whether you’re dealing with toxic or harmless mold.
In general settings, the mold is actually very common in damp indoor environments, 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 found in buildings, but it’s less common than flashy media reports would prefer to admit.
Health Hazards
The manifestation of toxic mold is a serious health concern. 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
Due to the danger raised by toxic mold, it’s important to take control of an outbreak as efficiently as possible. As a landlord, it would be irresponsible of you to not take preventive measures to address it. Aside from legal woes, toxic mold can prove to be dangerous to a rental home if left unchecked. Mold grows well wherever a steady supply of moisture is present. It can breed on cardboard, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, carpet, and upholstery. It can also grow on wood products, including the wood inside walls and floors, on insulation, and even on drywall and paint. 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
Oddly enough, some property management companies don’t consider mold a serious matter. They may try to avoid costs by ignoring water damage or telling residents to deal with it themselves. But mold should never be handled lightly and placing the health of your residents at risk is never a good idea. The serious nature of the damages caused by ignoring mold makes it a job for a company that will work to protect you and your residents from unwanted consequences.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management Ventura County, we understand the hazards that uncontrolled growths of mold present to rental property owners. Our team of expert property managers and service professionals in Camarillo will address the issue early and correct it, thereby saving you both time and money. Would you like a free assessment of your rental property? Please contact us online or call us at 805-387-3682 for more information.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
