Mold and a Contaminated HVAC system

[tmfreema]

I have been living in a home for 6 months now. I've had problems with the home from the very beginning. I told my landlord about 2 months ago that there was mold in the house. He blew me off until I told him I would call the city inspector. Last week the house was tested and there was indeed mold found (toxic mold in high amounts). The HVAC system is contaminated. The EPA said a heating system contaminated with mold should be turned off immediatley. He did not contact me for over 24 hours and then stated that a mold remediation crew would be at my home next week. Another entire week. This is my question. Is it not illegal to not provide heat in the winter? Also, do I have a case against him for not looking into my claims earlier which could have adversly affected my health?

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Yes; depending on where you live (although right now it's cold everywhere across the US) you do need some type of heat source. This could be space heaters if the central unit is not usable until this mold issue gets fixed. I suspect your landlord has no control over when the mold remediation crew could get to the unit.

The problem with the mold issue is that,unfortunately, it's been beaten to death by tenants who find things like mildew in their bathroom and holler mold. So when there really is an issue with mold, it's easy to blow this off without professional testing.

What type of case do you thnk you have against your landlord; what do you wish to receive from all of this? Free rent, the chance to move without financial penalties for breaking a least, or ??? You need to decide this before you decide to go the legal route.

Gail

 

[tmfreema]

I really just want to move and be done with the entire situation. I have asthma and allergies and my dog is a Shih Tzu and has breathing problems as well. I just want to leave. Thanks for your help!