City weighs rental regulations aimed at mold problems

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City weighs rental regulations aimed at mold problems

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/May/20050510News008.asp

By CHUCK ADAMSON of the Tribune's staff

Published Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Home renter Jeff White began noticing black spots coming through the

carpet in his home at 208 Redwood Road when he moved in four years

ago.

G.J. McCarthy photo

Jeff White, 36, sits near what he believes to be stains from mold in

the living room of his central Columbia rental home at 208 Redwood

Road. Prompted by a letter from the University of Missouri-Columbia

philosophy student, city officials are considering whether to

address mold issues in rental regulations.

Over time, the spots, which seemed to spontaneously appear, got

bigger.

The University of Missouri-Columbia philosophy graduate student

began to notice mold on the walls and in his bathroom. About two

months ago, he said, he developed a severe sore throat and

congestion.

Suspecting the mold was making him sick, White put an air filter in

his bedroom and cleaned the visible fungus. That helped, he said.

The experience prompted him to write the Columbia City Council about

the lack of regulation regarding mold in rental properties. Now the

city is looking into setting guidelines for rental inspectors when

they find the nasty substance.

The Environmental Protection Agency says inhaling or touching mold

can cause allergic reactions including hay fever-type symptoms, such

as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash.

Last week, Columbia Director of Public Health Browning

brought a report to the city council that recommended against

requiring full-scale mold testing in rental properties or

establishing any mold level guidelines.

" The science is not exact and is open to debate, " Browning

wrote. " Any intervention should follow the recommendations of the

EPA: clean up visible mold and correct the condition causing the

elevated mold level. "

City officials already make home visits when residents call,

Browning said, but only to offer information on mold prevention and

cleanup.

Also, rental property inspectors from the Columbia Public Works

Department can require landlords to fix leaking water sources, but

there is nothing in the city code that requires the cleanup of the

mold itself, city officials said.

" If at a national level the EPA can't come up with standards, it's

going to be a real challenge for the City of Columbia to do it, "

Browning wrote. " But requiring removal of mold is doable. I am of

the opinion that if you can see mold, it should be removed. "

Sixth Ward Councilman Ash said he believes mold could be

addressed through rental inspections.

" I think it is a legitimate problem that needs to be addressed, " he

said.

Browning said she'll speak with the Columbia/Boone County Board of

Health at its meeting tonight but said there won't be a quorum, so

she'll bring a report to the board again at its June 14 meeting.

Browning said that the Public Works Department will report to the

Building Construction Codes Commission and that recommendations from

both bodies will be forwarded to the city council.

White said he doesn't blame his landlord, who he said has agreed to

paint and to replace the carpet. He said his neighbor told him a

previous tenant grew mushrooms in a bedroom of the home, humidifying

it on purpose.

" We're trying to rectify the problem, obviously, " said Joe Callahan

of Callahan & Galloway Inc., which manages White's rental house. " We

will follow up to ensure that he is satisfied and that the owner is

notified. "

Callahan said he'd " encourage the city to get involved " in setting

guidelines. " It is really the responsibility of the landlords to

follow up if the tenants have a problem because as of yet, there is

no city or federal regulations, " he said.

White wants the city to consider requiring landlords to disclose

known mold problems and to clean up mold once it is discovered.

" If I just go and leave, someone else could come in, and the

landlord is not required to tell them or really do anything, " White

said.

Ben Londeree, a member of the Columbia Apartment Association, said

he has in his lease agreements a requirement that tenants inform him

of any known water leakage or moisture problem that could cause mold.

" I would go in, find the source and correct it. I believe that is an

apartment owner's responsibility, " Londeree said. " It would be

prudent for an apartment owner to get it under control. "

He said the apartment association has no official position on the

issue but said he plans to bring it up at tonight's meeting. " I'm

not sure anyone knows this discussion is going on, " Londeree said.

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