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The 4 Things a Landlord Should Do When Contacted About Mold
1/10/2020 (Permalink)
Mold damage in Plumstead Township, PA
The 4 Things a Landlord Should Do When Contacted About Mold
As a landlord, when a tenant expresses concern about possible mold contamination, it is your responsibility to take their concerns seriously. However, concern over likely mold does not necessarily equate to immediate mold cleanup. Therefore, when a tenant calls with such a complaint, follow four simple rules in your response.
- Respond to messages
- Contact a remediation company
- Take photos
- Get test results and act
Respond to Messages
First and foremost, when a tenant calls with a complaint, respond to their messages. Do not ignore the phone call, especially when it is about mold, which is very concerning for some people. You should try and respond within the same day. However, if other matters demand your attention, try to respond by at least the following morning.
Contact a Remediation Company
Next, before you order a full-blown mold cleanup, you should request testing of the apartment and the facility. Contact a mold remediation company in Plumstead Township, PA. These services should be able to provide testing and removal if needed.
Take Photos
Once you have contacted the experts, go to the apartment and investigate the alleged growth. Take plenty of pictures for your records, and if the substance proves to be mold, take photos once the removal is complete as well. Keep all images and documentation of the incident in the same file for easy reporting later.
Get Test Results and Act
Last, the remediation company will come in and likely perform surface testing or air quality testing, either will be able to tell if you have a high level of mold spores in the property. If the test results are positive, then have the tenant evacuate the apartment until the removal and restoration can take place.
A full-scale mold cleanup is only required if the substance is actually mold. However, legal responsibility may vary depending on the cause of the growth. Therefore, contact a professional removal service capable of testing and diagnosis.