Mold Forces Woman Out Of Her Apartment

October 29, 2002

Reported by: Kettler

Web produced by: Liz Foreman

Photographed by: 9News

10/28/02 4:46:07 PM

The mold inside Pamela Crooms' Kennedy Heights apartment is overwhelming --

it covers the walls from floor to ceiling in just about every room.

The health department said the mold is so bad that they are recommending

that Crooms find a new place to stay immediately.

The problem began when the kitchen sink started to leak, Crooms said. " After

that, I started to see all the mold coming out. "

Crooms called her landlord, Dwyer and M.E. Realty, to fix the problem. The

landlord, who declined to speak on camera, said they assessed the problem

and then returned a week later to fix it but said Crooms wouldn't let the

workmen inside.

" I don't want nobody to come in there and start slapping stuff around. I

want to know if it's in my furniture. I've got a lot of questions, " Crooms

said.

Monday, a city health inspector came to answer some of the questions.

" It appears there's been water migrating down the walls probably, from a

leak in the roofing system, " said Denis Boudreaux of the health department.

" With the water in the wall and proper temperature and food, mold can grow. "

Boudreaux also said he thinks there may be a leak coming from underneath the

building's crawl space. As a result, he has notified the landlord to look

into it.

" She should probably see about living somewhere else. I wouldn't want a

family living in a condition like this, " Boudreaux said.

So what should you do if you find yourself in a similar situation? The

health department recommends that you contact your landlord immediately if

you notice any kind of water leak.

If the problem is not addressed, you should notify your local health

department. The health department will then send out an inspector to assess

the seriousness of the situation.

" I think I'll try and get out of here and go over a friend's house because

its just too much, " Crooms said.

Crooms' landlord has offered to relocate her to a different apartment in

College Hill, but Crooms is hesitant because her job is in Kennedy Heights

and she doesn't have a car.

Recommended Posts