Recently we moved into a new apartment. We've found that there's something in the apartment that's causing us health problems. Here's a list of some of the problems:
-dizziness
-nauseous
-inability to concentrate; brain fatigue/fog
-insomnia
-respiratory ailments
-sinus ailments
-feeling blue

Unfortunately, my dad has had the most problems. i'm guessing his age and immune system factor into that.
I've been inspecting the apartment for the past few days. At first i suspected that it was the carpeting that was the cause of our problems. I spoke to the super about this and he assured me that there was nothing wrong with the carpets. He had them installed, brand new, after the old tenants moved out. I reminded him that carpets out gas harmful chemicals. He responded by saying that he had installed a berber carpet and they were safe. He also said that no one else in the 10 years he's been a super has complained about any such problems. Yesterday i did some more detective work and guess what i found? MOLD! I just followed that smell and it led me to the mold. Any idea what type of mold it is?
Thanks

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templelane

I can't characterise it but I know it will help anybody else of try to if you can give a rough geological location. You get different species (that look very similar) in different locations.

twinkiedooter

Mold is mold. This problem should have been cleaned up before you moved in. Apparently your father is highly sensitive to any kind of mold. If possible can you move to a different location while they rid the mold problem or can you break your lease and move elsewhere. In the next place you rent, be sure to thoroughly investigate all areas for any hidden mold.

donkeykong

Thanks for the quick responses. I inspected the apartment some more and have found that there is moldy odor emitting from the outlets. There's one outlet which hasn't been covered and the odor is particularly strong. Is it possible that there's mold growing inside the walls. Also, the previous tenants had a LOT of house plants. In the room where i found the mold they had at least 10 houseplants. I read somewhere that houseplants can raise humidity levels. High humidity levels can contribute to mold growth.
Also, if we decide hire a professional to inspect the apartment, can we forward the bill to the landlord?
p.s. The other radiators also smell.

ballengerb1

You can't expect the Landlord to accept your bill unless he agrees to it in advance, I doubt if he will. I bet we both wish you had not moved into this place before this issue was addressed. There is a good chance that, as you suspect, there is mold inside the walls and along the baseboard. This will be exceptionallly difficult to remediate and costly too. You might have a slim chance of breaking the lease if you can get the health department to inspect and declare it is not habitable.

mary lalsley

did you see any of that before you move in this apartment and i hope that your family is ok just by looking at that need to have the law on your side and not only for the money but just because the things that you are going threw being in that house make that landlord pay for that baby i am so sad for your family let know about your out come god bless you and your family god love you and may he be with you

donkeykong

Thanks mary for your kind words. I appreciate them and no, actually we didn't see anything else wrong with the house before we moved in.
Ballengerb1, why do you think our chances of breaking the lease are 'slim'. Mold can cause health problems, especially toxic mold.

donkeykong

An update. I spoke to the super today and showed him the furnace and the cupboard underneath the kitchen sink. He checked them and his response was this, "In the 10 years that i've been the super of this apartment, we've NEVER had a problem with mold. It doesn't exist in this apartment." He seemed upset that i suggested it was mold. His opinion is that it's mildew. Last time i checked mildew is a type of mold, right?
He did agree to call an inspector to verify that it's not mold.