Landlords are Required to Notify Tenants about Mold

[Guest guest]

Landlords are Required to Notify Tenants about Mold

Office of Environmental Health and Safety

Division of Environmental Health

Washington State Department of Health

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ/mold-notification.htm

Last Update : 07/12/2007

During the 2005 legislative session, the Washington State

legislature approved a bill , that requires landlords to notify

their tenants about mold. Engrossed Senate Bill (ESB) 5049 (See

especially Section 2 (12) (Effective 7-24-2005).

The Department of Health has developed this web page to provide you

with the materials you need as a landlord to comply with this new

legislation.

Mold can impact human health. For some, molds impact can be

profound. Mold may trigger an attack in people with asthma. For

people who are allergic to mold, exposure may cause allergy symptoms

(not unlike hay fever). Mold and the mycotoxins they may produce

are still a topic of considerable debate; however mold should not be

tolerated in the space where you live.

Senate bill 5049 requires landlords to notify tenants about mold.

Specifically, landlords must supply information to tenants about:

The health hazards associated with exposure to indoor mold

Steps to take to control mold growth in their dwelling units

Landlords must notify:

New tenants starting July 24, 2005.

Current tenants by January 1, 2006.

Posting of this information in a visible, public location at the

dwelling unit property is allowed.

The following information can be obtained from the Washington State

Department of Health (DOH) either electronically or in printed form.

Materials (Any one of the following documents will fulfill the

notification requirements of Senate Bill 5049):

DOH web page, " Got Mold " .

Links to two sites for mold information in Spanish:

From California Department of Health Services, " Moho en Mi Casa:

Que Hago? (Mold in My House: What do I Do?) "

From University of Minnesota: " Molds - Your Safe Home " - in

Spanish.

EPA document " A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home " . This

document is available in English and Spanish, both online and at 1-

800-438-4318, .

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, contact:

White (360) 236-3090, or

Marchant (360) 236-3363

[Guest guest]

When I first saw this, I thought it meant something completely different. I

thought (for a second) that it meant that landlords had to tell the tenants

in a building that had a mold problem about it, or give them access to tests

that were done in the building.

Of course, that isn't the case. Maybe someday.

(Now THAT might actually have some deterrent effect on these nightmare

situations, I would guess.)

No, its really just more like the laws requiring landlords to notify tenants

that a building may have lead paint.

If tenants have problems with mold, and test results show that there is a

problem in a building, it still does not mean that anyone else will be told.

It doesn't stop landlords from ignoring them, either, does it?

IF the landlord had to tell other tenants, or if the city or state goverment

did, THAT might deter them from allowing situations to get worse and worse

for years like they sometimes do.

Now that would be a good law...