One of the good things about renting properties is having a landlord maintain a habitable home. Of course, the tenants have their share of responsibility ensuring the rental is in tiptop shape. But the landlord is present to check on things that tenants may neglect. They need to keep a healthy environment for their renters and follow safety guidelines. I’m not only referring to landlords in Canada but also every country.

The landlord needs to stay on top of things because ignoring issues may cause grave complications in the future. Take our topic today, for instance. We will tackle molds and how to get rid of them.

What is a mold?

Mould is a type of fungi that typically grows in damp places. It occurs naturally in our outdoor environment. You can identify molds through their appearance, black- or white-stained and fuzzy. I’m sure most people have seen molds in some of their food, especially if they left it outside of the fridge for a few days.

Since molds develop in wet and moist areas, they can grow mostly in hidden places. Some of these are under the sink, the corners of the bathroom, around the toilet, and attics. Notice that the ones I mentioned hardly get any sunlight and are therefore damp most of the time.

Problems caused by molds

Aside from being an eyesore, molds can cause health problems to tenants. The presence of molds in the property can result in mild symptoms like skin irritation, a stuffy nose, and coughing. But they can also cause serious health problems to the occupants, particularly for people who have lung diseases. Inhaling mold can become the source of their infection. We do not want that to happen, would we?

The tenants can file a lawsuit if they prove the landlord’s negligence caused the whole issue. After all, part of his job is making sure that there are no health hazards on the property. For example, the tenant has been complaining that the kitchen sink leaks. The landlord failed to have the sink fixed, leading to the growth of molds that caused health issues to the tenant.

Solutions

Fortunately, these problems are fixable in easy ways. The first one is preventing the molds. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure because it is more uncomplicated than finding solutions. To avoid the buildup of these fungi, the landlord should observe the common areas where they grow. However, they cannot always check the rental. He can instruct the tenants on how to avoid molds.

The tenants should clean the damp areas with soap and water constantly and open the windows from time to time. They should also remember to report any leaks in the rental. In return, the landlord should address the problems with plumbing. He must keep the common areas clean all the time. Another tip is to hire professionals to check the rental at least once a month. They can assess the areas that tenants and landlords may overlook.

Sadly, if the molds have begun to grow, the landlord must deal with them immediately. A professional mold remediation company is what every landlord needs for the infestation. They have the proper tools to get rid of the molds, and they are more thorough in cleaning. If the problem has become severe, the tenants may have to move out temporarily. The landlord must provide them with an alternative if that is the situation.

The landlords should not take the existence of molds lightly. They can cause serious health problems and can turn the tenants away. Nevertheless, landlords and tenants have equal responsibility in taking care of the property and maintaining its pristine condition.

As an agent, your role is to guarantee the landlord has been following the health and safety guidelines before putting it on the market. You would not want to offer a less-than-stellar rental. Once you know the property is ready, you can post your listings online using Padleads. You can even syndicate it to other websites. Pretty convenient, right?