You've got mold - What Boulder renters should know about a potential problem

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You've got mold

What Boulder renters should know about a potential problem

University of Colorado The Campus Press - Boulder,CO

Ilana Guttenberg

http://media.www.thecampuspress.com/media/storage/paper1098/news/2007

/03/11/News/Youve.Got.Mold-2771627.shtml

Make sure your not getting into a moldy situation when pre-leasing

for fall. The black fuzzy fungus, otherwise known as mold, is

something to watch out for when renting.

Not only is mold unsightly, but also it is harmful to our health.

Mold spores become harmful when inhaled and can lead to nasal

congestion, eye irritation and wheezing or skin irritation. Even

memory loss can occur if you are exposed to mold for a long period

of time.

Mold is common in boulder. Joe Boatman with Quality Environmental

Services said he does at least five to ten inspections for mold

every week in Boulder. If a rental property is infested with mold it

could take a long time to get rid of.

" There are a lot of mold problems and it can result in a couple of

days to a couple of weeks of clean up, " Boatman said.

If renting a property that is infested with mold, the renter is not

responsible for the mold clean up. When renting a house or an

apartment in Boulder, contamination of mold is considered a breach

of the lease. Massaro, a real estate attorney, said it is

considered constructive eviction.

" The contract with a landlord is considered breach, because you

cannot live in a harmful environment, " Massaro said.

According to state law, the landlord is responsible for ensuring

proper living conditions. This includes making sure the premises do

not have any kind of mold contamination.

Delia Burnett, a junior art history major, is not worried about

mold. It is something she never really thinks about.

" I do not really worry about mold because I'm a short term renter, "

Burnett said.

Steve Henry, a senior English major, recognizes mold more on his

food rather than places in his house.

" The other day I was eating a sandwich and I bit into it, it tasted

bad so I looked at the sandwich. The curst was black and moldy, so I

cut off the curst and continued eating, " Henry said.

Although Henry is only looking for mold on his sandwich, he should

be looking for it in warm and damp places in his house, as should

the rest of perspective Boulder renters.

Contact Campus Press Staffwriter Ilana Guttenburg at

Ilana.Guttenberg@...