Tenant complaining about mold?
Question:
The tenant in one of my units is complaining that there is currently mold around a bath tub where the tile meets the tub. She wants me to clean it up. Who is responsible for cleaning up the mold?
Answer:
That might depend on what type of mold it is, the source of the moisture that results in mold, and/or whether there was evidence of the mold at the time the tenant moved in.
The type of mold that almost always appears around a tub at its interface with tile or other material is not usually of the type that the landlord must clean, at least not if mold was not there when the tenant moved in. In most, perhaps all states the tenant is legally responsible for keeping the premises in clean and safe conditions. This includes keeping the plumbing fixtures clean (and free of mold). Of course, if the problem is caused by a leak in the wall or from a unit above, the landlord should take care of the problem. Taking care of the problem includes repair of the leak source, not only because the mold is more the fault of the landlord rather the tenant, but more importantly because continuation of the leak will ultimately result in the landlord having to pay for very expensive repairs or rebuilding of walls, ceilings, and/or floor.