Dealing with Mold in Your Rental Office – What to Do?
If you smell something musty in your office rentals, then know there is mold infestation somewhere. Mold is not only hazardous to the material it is growing on but also for human health. This reason makes it crucial to take an immediate step against it as soon as possible.
Many tenants have won cases against landlords for significant health problems caused by mold, such as asthma, chronic fatigue, nausea, respiratory issues, hemorrhaging, and asthma. Therefore, if you suspect mold in your rental unit, learn what to look for and when your landlord might be responsible. Even better, please take steps to prevent mold before it becomes a problem or ask your landlord to clean it up before it becomes a problem.
Mold removal companies like 911 Restoration have professional staff and services to clean up mold using the latest equipment. They are there to help you with mold infestation and any property issue 24/7 every day.
How to Spot Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that can be green, white, and black. It grows in places where moisture is present, especially in dark warm areas of the house, such as the basement or behind furniture.
Mold can be dangerous if left untreated for long; it releases tiny spores into the air that makes you sick. If inhaled, these spores can settle into the lungs and cause many health problems such as asthma and other respiratory difficulties.
Your rental space might have mold if you witness or experience any of the following symptoms:
- You smell something musty, and this smell is persistent.
- You spot black or dark green spots appearing on surfaces, such as walls, furniture, and air vents.
- You start feeling physical symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulties, itchy eyes, or skin rashes that get better when you leave the space.
- You see signs of water damage; water damage means mold infestation has already started.
Don’t ignore these mold symptoms and signs for the sake of your health. Let your landlord know or call a restoration company soon.
Which Type of Mold Is Dangerous?
The mold left untreated can turn from dark green to black mold. Mold should be dealt with immediately and not ignored. It is extremely toxic to humans and causes many serious health issues that make them severely ill.
What to Do If You Have Mold
As A Tenant
If you come across mold infestation in your rental space, try to tackle it yourself. If you see a small spot in a specific part of your space, use a bleach solution or soap and water to scrub the mold off.
However, in most cases, mold usually shows up and is visible once it becomes widespread. In such cases, using home remedies would only worsen the situation and also increase health hazards. In this case, scrubbing would further spread mold to other places and into the air.
As A Landlord
If the mold issue is widespread, you need to notify your landlord immediately. In such cases, don’t try to inspect the place on your own, especially if the source of mold infestation is not obvious. Suggest your landlord call a professional company to properly detect mold and use their techniques and solutions to clean up the mold. You and your landlord must work together to get it addressed immediately.
The landlord would be responsible for paying for all the expenses during the process and for taking steps to prevent the future growth of mold, such as fixing leaky pipes, repainting water-damaged pipes, and dealing with issues with the HVAC system.
Professional services like 911 Restoration know how to deal with toxic mold, especially black mold. Call them for their services and get your space cleaned up.
What You Can Do to Prevent Mold from Growing
The best thing you can do is find a well-kept building when you are looking for office rental spaces. If you see signs of water damage and leaks, know there will be other costly issues in the building later on.
A responsible landlord will ensure appliances, pipes, tubs, and other areas are operational and maintain the building regularly. You can even prevent mold by ensuring your current rental office space doesn’t have standing water anywhere. Dry out any moisture you see as soon as possible.
Even if you’re not certain you have a mold issue, call your landlord at the first sign of any mold symptoms listed above.
Call the Professionals
If the mold damage is excessive and home remedies of removing mold are not working, ask your landlord to reach out to professional mold removal services in Washington DC. The experienced 911 Restoration will use advanced equipment, appropriate cleaning materials, and efficient cleaning techniques to remove the mold before it spreads further and causes costly damage to your dental office. Call us now at (202) 350-2244!