The problem with remediating rental units is that renters can’t just start opening up walls to remove the source of mold without the landlord’s permission.
The best thing to do is for the renter to perform self-testing, such as The Dust Test, or hire a mold inspector to determine the mold situation in the home. If the data collected shows that there’s a contamination issue then they can show the landlord and ask them to hire a remediation company to take care of the issue in the unit.
A solid mold inspection should provide a comprehensive snapshot of the state of your home that a remediation company can use as the roadmap needed for a treatment protocol.
For more information on mold inspections, check out my blog post.
For my list of mold inspector recommendations based on your home state, check out this map.
Unfortunately, rules and regulations regarding remediating toxic indoor environments vary by state. Make sure to check with your local guidelines to see what a landlord is legally required to do to handle an indoor mold growth situation.
It’s also important to stay up-to-date with the scope of work being done because not all mold remediation companies are built the same. In order to properly remediate mold, a company must create a protocol based on three pillars.
These pillars are:
The sources must be taken care of
The issues that led to the contamination must be remedied
The contaminants, including mycotoxins, must be removed
For more information on mold remediation, check out this post.
In the meantime, while you’re waiting for this process to progress, it’s a good idea to take steps to remove as many particles in your indoor environment as possible.
These steps can include:
Deep cleaning using botanical cleaners, a HEPA vacuum cleaner, and microfiber towels
Wash all machine-washable items like clothing with EC3 Laundry Additive
Investing in an air purifier
Purchasing the highest-rated MERV filter the HVAC system can handle
Maintaining indoor humidity levels of 35-50%
Creating airflow in the kitchen and bathrooms while in use
Another option is to limit the time spent inside the rental unit as much as possible so that fewer particles are making their way into the body.
