Sacramento's Ardendale Apartment Complexes Post Warning Signs

July 10, 2002

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Apartment Complexes Post Warning Signs

Rent May Increase As Insurance Increases

Posted: 4:33 p.m. PDT July 8, 2002

Updated: 8:00 a.m. PDT July 9, 2002

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Tenants at Sacramento's Ardendale Apartments started

seeing warning signs a few months ago, warning that their complex " contains

chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects. "

" It scares me in the sense that, where exactly and how exactly are these

chemicals going to affect me? " said tenant ne Durnin.

The property manager, , said that the signs simply refer to

chemicals that have always been around the pool and in the laundry room.

They are chemicals that are possibly used by a pest control company.

" No new chemicals are being used or anything like that, " said property

manager .

But apartment complexes are now among the businesses required to post the

state's Proposition 65 warning. So signs are showing up all over California.

But just as the signs appeared the Ardendale complex, so did notices in the

mail, telling tenants that their rental agreements now include a toxic mold

clause.

" Mold is now a big thing in the state of California, " said.

Property managers say that there's no new health threat but that there is a

serious financial one, because the fear of toxic mold has insurance

companies running scared.

The company that manages Ardendale and several other complexes said that its

insurance costs jumped from $28,000 last year to $62,000 this year.

The owner of another, smaller complex said that his premiums doubled and he

had no choice but to raise rents. So managers are urging tenants to work

with them the instant they see the slightest sign of mold.

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