Avoiding Mold Cleanup May Turn Into a Lawsuit

12/31/2020 (Permalink)

Avoiding mold cleanup may turn into a lawsuit

Property managers and landlords in Oklahoma City, OK, have a lot on their plates and are often juggling various daily tasks. While some issues don’t require immediate attention, others should always be instantly tackled. Any plumbing issues or flooding fall into that category. If not addressed, the damage may lead to black mold. If that also isn’t quickly remedied, you could also be facing a lawsuit.

Causes for a Lawsuit

While the building standards may differ from town to town, landlords are still lawfully required to maintain and ensuring living conditions for tenants are free of safety or health hazards. If the mold forming within a property is toxic, such as black mold, that affects the habitability of the property. If the owner ignores the issues, the following may be viable reasons for a tenant to sue:

• An ongoing water leak or visible mold has been repeatedly reported, but the problem hasn’t been fixed.
  
• Tenant incurs expenses attempting to fix the problem on their own.
  
• Belongings have been damaged by the mold.
  
• Health issues have arisen directly linked to the fungus and have resulted in medical expenses or lost wages.
  
  

Remediation and Prevention
Dealing with a lawsuit on top of the damage to a property is a position no one wants to be in. Luckily, landlords can avoid that by taking mold remediation seriously. Upon the first report of a problem, visit the property to conduct an inspection. If the affected area is more than 10 square feet, your best bet is to call in a mold damage and restoration specialist to correctly address the problem and ensure it doesn’t come back. After experiencing mold damage, take preventive measures to keep it from happening again and communicate with tenants. Prevention tips include immediately drying wet areas, ensure the property has proper ventilation, keep humidity levels below 60% and verify that rainwater is draining away from the structure.
When faced with a black mold issue, ignoring will likely lead to bigger problems, including a potential lawsuit. Immediately addressing issues goes a long way in keeping your property in good condition and tenants happy.