When it comes to the general care of a property, the owners know that spotting problems before they become big and then fixing them quickly are solid strategies to save money. Deal with the issues you find quickly. Disregarding an issue now may lead to greater expenses in the future as the problem grows bigger over time. Not only will this affect costs but it may even put you or your residents at risk.
One common problem that can catch both owners and residents off guard is mold. The mold may appear in one of the rooms without anyone noticing it. Because it starts gradually and spreads slowly, often inside walls or hidden within structures, certain types of mold can appear to sprout from nowhere in a blink of an eye. One moment the area looks clean, and the next moment it’s filled with mold. Left untreated, mold could deal a lot of damage to buildings.
There are many different kinds of molds, but the toxic variety is called Black Mold, or Stachybotrys atra. Often a slimy greenish-black or gray in appearance, the toxic mold may appear on leaky roofs, windows, or pipes. They may also appear under floors if you’ve had a flood or in ceilings if you’ve had a leak. Toxic mold thrives in damp places in the home. Black Mold excretes an unpleasant musty odor. And when it appears in your property, it can drastically limit your ability to guarantee safety. This is because mold creates potential health problems for the residents. It is important to remember, Stachybotrys molds are not always black. This means molds of different colors could also be dangerous. Another way to say this is that there is no way to determine, just by looking, whether your mold problem is of the toxic or harmless variety.
Whilst mold overall is 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 what is being reported and hyped in the media.
Health Hazards
Toxic mold, when it shows up, is a serious health concern. The CDC reports show a connection between the presence of mold in the property 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 could be more significantly affected, leading to serious lung or other life-threatening conditions.
Property Damage
Because of the dangers posed by toxic mold, it’s important to take control of an outbreak as efficiently as possible. As a landlord, you can be held responsible if you know that mold is present in a rental home but fail to take the right steps to deal with it.
Beyond legal liability, toxic mold can severely damage a rental home if left unchecked. Mold develops well wherever there is a regular supply of moisture. It can grow on cardboard, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, upholstery, and carpet. It can also grow on wood objects, such as the wood inside walls and floors, on insulation, and even on drywall and paint. With so much at stake in your rental homes, it’s essential to do regular upkeep that includes good mold prevention strategies.
Call the Experts
It would be a wonder why some property managers still think twice about spending to fix it. They may try to prevent costs by ignoring water damage or telling residents to handle it themselves. But mold must never be handled lightly and putting the health of your residents at risk is never a good idea. The serious nature of mold and the great risks and damages it can cause—especially when ignored—makes it a job for a company that will work to safeguard you and your residents from undesirable consequences.
In Conclusion
At Real Property Management East San Gabriel Valley, we recognize the dangers that uncontrolled growths of mold present to rental property owners. Our team of proficient property managers and service specialists in Glendale will address the problem early and fix it, thereby saving you both time and money. Would you like a free assessment of your rental property? For more information, please contact us online or call us at 626-600-2884.
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