Common Types of Mold in Apartments
Researchers have identified more than 100,000 types of mold, but some are more common than others in homes. Unfortunately, these include varieties that are dangerous to human health.
If you have been diagnosed with a mold-related illness or if your doctor has told you that some of your allergic or respiratory symptoms may be linked to mold, it’s time to get serious about your health. Contact Flaxman Law Group for a consultation with our toxic mold attorneys to find out whether you may be eligible for compensation or other remedies that will help you breathe easy.
Why Mold Grows in Apartments
Mold is one of those problems you don’t think about until you smell it, see it, or worse, feel it in your lungs. In apartments, mold is often tied to how the building is maintained. For example, heating or AC systems that drip or ductwork that isn’t cleaned can leave moisture trapped in walls or carpets.
What’s important to understand is that mold usually doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It’s often the result of neglected maintenance. This can include:
- A landlord who ignores roof leaks.
- A property manager who fails to check insulation around windows.
- HVAC systems that haven’t been serviced in years.
- A landlord who paints over mold spots instead of hiring mold remediation professionals.
If you’re living with mold, the law is clear: landlords are required to provide safe, livable housing. That means providing a rental free of toxic mold.
Health Risks Associated with Mold in Rental Properties
Living with mold can be dangerous, especially for children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. However, even healthy young adults can become ill when exposed to toxic mold over a long period of time. Common health problems that can develop include:
- Breathing problems, especially for those with asthma.
- Chronic sinus infections and lingering coughs.
- Skin irritation or unexplained rashes.
- Fatigue, brain fog, or trouble concentrating.
In some cases, mold can lead to serious lung infections, hospitalizations, and even death and wrongful death claims. Since it is so serious, it is important to always consult with a doctor if you notice any symptoms or if you know mold is present in your home.
Common Types of Mold in Apartments
Molds can be divided into three main categories. Allergenic molds may trigger allergic reactions, but are unlikely to lead to serious illness, while pathogenic molds can be dangerous for vulnerable individuals. The most serious type, toxigenic, is dangerous to all pets and people.
Let’s take a closer look at the types of mold that can flourish in apartments.
Black Mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum)
When people think of “toxic mold,” this is the one that comes to mind. Black mold is a toxigenic mold that thrives in constant moisture, like a leak behind drywall or a flood that wasn’t properly cleaned up.
Black mold exposure can cause severe respiratory issues, neurological symptoms, and, in rare cases, long-term health complications. This mold can also contaminate clothes, books, furniture, and other property. This means that even if the possessions are moved to a new home, the pores can spread.
Aspergillus Mold
Aspergillus is one of the most common indoor molds, and while not always toxic, it can still trigger serious health problems for those who are allergic to it. This mold thrives in dust, HVAC systems, and damp walls.
For healthy adults, exposure may cause mild allergies. But for children, seniors, or anyone with a weakened immune system, Aspergillus can lead to infections, including a serious one called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which leads to airway inflammation and may require hospitalization.
Landlords sometimes dismiss Aspergillus as “harmless” mildew. But if your child ends up in the ER with breathing problems, that argument doesn’t hold.
Penicillium Mold
Many people recognize the word “penicillium” from the antibiotic penicillin. But in apartments, this mold is a hazard. Penicillium mold tends to grow on water-damaged furniture, wallpaper, and carpeting. It can show up as blue-green spots and is especially common around leaky windows and anywhere where water damage is present.
Penicillium spores are light and spread easily, often hitching rides through HVAC systems. This means what starts in one corner of an apartment can quickly reach every room. Exposure is linked to asthma flare-ups, lung inflammation, and even infections in vulnerable individuals.
Cladosporium Mold
Cladosporium is another common allergenic mold that grows both indoors and outdoors. It appears as black, green, or brown spots and is particularly stubborn. It can grow on fabrics, wood, and HVAC duct linings, but is especially prevalent on water-damaged building materials.
Tenants often see Cladosporium near leaky sliding glass doors or around AC units that collect condensation. In some cases, property owners may bring this mold into the building by doing renovations with water-damaged materials. In other cases, tenants may also have a product liability claim if a faulty HVAC system caused mold spores to enter the home.
Cladosporium can cause allergy-like symptoms: watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing. But for people with compromised immune systems, the risk is greater, sometimes leading to skin infections or lung irritation.
Alternaria Mold
Alternaria is one of the most common molds found in apartments, and while many people first notice it outdoors on plants or soil, it can easily spread indoors when there’s enough moisture. It often looks like dark green, brown, or black patches with a velvety texture, and it can show up on shower walls, around leaky windows, or near air-conditioning units.
This mold is common on bathroom tiles or around sliding glass doors that don’t seal tightly against afternoon rain. Even a short-lived roof leak during a storm can be enough to invite Alternaria inside.
While Alternaria isn’t always as feared as black mold, it can still cause allergic reactions, asthma flare-ups, and breathing difficulties, especially for children and older adults.
How To Identify Mold in Your Apartment
Many tenants don’t know they’re living with mold until health problems begin. Mold can grow behind walls, in air vents, or under carpeting. It may not be visible, and when small spots appear they may be dismissed as dust or cleaned up. That’s why knowing the signs is critical:
- Visual clues. Black, green, brown, pink, or even white fuzzy spots on walls, ceilings, or furniture can be mold. Carefully check around windows, air vents, and in washrooms, where mold may thrive.
- Smell. A musty or earthy odor that lingers, especially after running the air conditioning can indicate mold.
- Health changes. Coughing, sneezing, headaches, or unexplained rashes that improve when you leave the apartment can be a red flag sign of mold. If your symptoms disappear when you’re on vacation but return when you get back home, you may be exposed to mold at home or at work.
- Moisture history. Past leaks, flooding, or water stains, even if they were “fixed,” can put you at risk of future mold.
Mold is not consistent. You may notice mustiness or spots more after a storm or after damp weather. This can indicate that mold is present under walls, carpets, ceilings, or floors. You will also want to be more vigilant after any serious storms or flooding. Mold can develop, even if you’ve never had it before, if your building is damaged.
Ultimately, the best way to tell whether you have mold is to work with an air quality or mold inspector. A professional can determine whether you have mold, how bad the infestation is, and even the types of mold present.
Steps To Take If You Discover Mold in Your Apartment
If you suspect or confirm mold, here’s what you should do immediately:
- Protect your health. If possible, limit time in the affected area. Keep children and vulnerable family members away and always consult with a doctor. Even if your symptoms are mild, medical treatment can ensure your symptoms don’t get worse.
- Notify your landlord in writing. Send an email or letter so you have a paper trail.
- Request prompt remediation. Ask for professional cleanup, not just surface cleaning or paint-over jobs. These will not protect your health.
- Document everything. Take dated photos, keep copies of all correspondence, and track medical symptoms.
- Contact a lawyer. If your landlord delays, denies, or retaliates, you may need legal action to protect your rights. Depending on your situation, you may have a premises liability claim, be able to break your lease, or you may be able to seek compensation with a personal injury claim.
If you have been dealing with mold and are not sure where to turn, you can always contact Flaxman Law Group for a consultation. Our team of mold injury attorneys work with a network of building inspectors and other professionals, so we can help you document the infestation and take action to protect you and your household.
Landlord Responsibilities for Mold Remediation
Most state laws require landlords to provide safe, habitable housing. Mold can make a unit unlivable, and landlords who fail to remediate may be in violation of health and housing codes.
It’s important to remember: tenants are not responsible for structural mold issues. You are not required to tear out drywall or hire remediation companies yourself. If the problem stems from the building or landlord negligence, they carry the responsibility.
Unfortunately, mold is a common cause of landlord-tenant disputes. Landlords are often reluctant to pay for mold remediation, which can be expensive. Working with toxic mold attorneys can ensure that landlords act in good faith and actually make the apartment safe to inhabit.
When To Contact a Mold Lawyer for Help
Many tenants try to work things out with their landlord first. But sometimes, no matter how many times you call or write, the problem doesn’t get fixed. Worse, your landlord may blame you. That’s when it may be time to bring in an attorney.
Consider contacting a mold lawyer if:
- Your landlord ignores or dismisses your complaints.
- Mold has made you or your family sick.
- You’ve had to miss work or pay out-of-pocket medical costs.
- Your personal property (including furniture, clothing, and electronics) has been damaged.
- You’ve been threatened with eviction or other retaliation after reporting mold.
At Flaxman Law Group, our practice areas include personal injury, landlord-tenant disputes, and property damage, so we’re poised to help. We’ve seen landlords drag their feet until tenants involve an attorney. Once we step in, things often change quickly. Why? Because with over 60 years of combined experience, including time spent inside the insurance industry, we know how to document mold cases in ways landlords and insurers can’t ignore.
Protecting Your Rights as A Tenant
The law gives you rights, but it’s up to you to protect them. First, you need to know your rights. Most states ensure the:
- Right to habitable housing. Most states require landlords to maintain safe living conditions. Mold is a violation of that standard.
- Right to report issues. You can report mold without fear of retaliation. Landlords cannot legally evict you or retaliate against you for requesting repairs.
- Right to compensation. If you’ve suffered health problems, property damage, or relocation costs, you may be entitled to financial recovery.
Protecting your rights often starts with a simple step: reaching out to a lawyer who understands both the legal process and the personal toll mold can take.
At Flaxman Law Group, we can file a claim on your behalf, mediate with your landlord, or file a claim on your behalf. We may also be able to connect you with doctors, help you find safe housing, and provide the hands-on support you need while we pursue justice. Other firms may only handle the paperwork, but our goal is to help you recover. To find out more about what we can do in your mold exposure situation, contact us for a consultation.