Mold Growth: Your Responsibilities as a Landlord

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Prevent Mold Growth From Becoming Larger

One of the challenges of owning rental property in Harper Woods, MI, is that you must often depend on the vigilance of your tenants to know there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Once you have been notified that mold cleanup is needed, however, you should respond quickly to prevent the issue from becoming larger. This not only helps you serve your customers better but also makes you less likely to become party to a lawsuit.

Quick Response

The hallmark of a great landlord is that he or she is readily available to tenants. While it is not necessary for you personally to be on call 24/7, responding to complaints in a timely manner can foster a great relationship with them. Consider making multiple reporting tools available:

• Office phone with reliable receptionist
  
• Email response within 24 hours
  
• Form posted on website
• Online portal where maintenance process can be tracked
  
• 24-hour emergency line
  
  

Preventative Measures

The need for mold cleanup can often be avoided by taking care of leaks and water damage as soon as they occur. Ideally, your tenants will report problems like this as soon as they notice them. Since mold can start to grow quickly once excess moisture is present, you should consider it a high-priority issue. By fixing it before mold contamination has a chance to infest your property, you serve your tenants well.

Outside Help

If a problem does persist long enough for mold spores to settle and grow on a surface, it is in your best interest to hire mold remediation experts to get rid of the growth. These certified contractors have the specialized skills and equipment necessary to thoroughly mitigate mold issues. Regular cleaning methods will not be sufficient to remove the growth.

Fast response and resolution are the keys to mold cleanup. Both are necessary to provide great service to your tenants.