Mold forcing residents out of apartment

January 31, 2008

Tampa Bay's 10 - St. sburg,FL

By: Beau ZimmerPalm Harbor, Florida—

Pinkerton is a single dad with two teenage daughters. So

when he discovered mold growing in the walls between he and his

neighbor's apartment there was immediate concern.

" It seems like the more we try to complain or bring it to their

attention it gets swept under the rug, " Pinkerton says.

Residents say the problem started back in August with a major leak

coming from an upstairs apartment. After complaining to management,

residents called Pinellas Health Inspectors who reported " extensive

visible mold. "

These photos tell the story, with mold underneath carpet, near the

air vent, and underneath kitchen cabinets. Last week apartment

management ordered plumbing crews to fix leaking pipes within those

walls but with the risk of exposure to mold Pinkerton said not so

fast.

" I said for the safety of two children please do not cut into that

wall. "

But on Thursday crews began work anyway cutting into the ceiling and

the very wall where the mold was discovered.

" My main concern is the health risk. Two days ago I wasn't sick. Now

all of a sudden I'm sick, " Pinkerton said with a raspy voice.

" Any mold that was in the apartment had already been treated, " said

Dobson, Community Manager for Twin Lakes Apartments.

" The safety and health of our residents is very important to us. At

no time would we begin cutting into someone's walls if we actually

believed there was some type of mold growing within, " Dobson said.

And while Apartment management says the mold problem was taken care

of, residents aren't so sure.

" It seems like since they cut into the walls on Thursday, now all of

us are getting sick, " Pinkerton says. His two daughters have been

complaining of caugh and soar throat.

Apartment management is now refusing to renew the lease of the

family of three out. Pinkerton says he's ready to move out anyway

because no amount of inconvenience is worse than risking the health

of his two daughters.

Click here to see the Pinellas County health inspection

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