black mold/ rental dilemma?
Alex B asked:
So a few friends and I rent a house and pay for it in cash. So i’m not really sure as to how legit our rental is. With that said, about six months ago, tiles started falling out of the wall in our first floor bathroom due to moisture (which we mentioned to the landlord on several occasions but have no proof that we did so). Recently we discovered a black mold attack in the basement directly underneath this bathroom. The mold also happens to be right near the vents. Some of us have been hacking more than our normal smokers coughs and I’m pretty sure all the books I have been storing in the basement must be thrown out (and I have a massive book collection). Is there any way that I can take legal action though we don’t have a copy of the lease and we’re paying the guy in cash? or are we seriously SOL?
Black Mold
So a few friends and I rent a house and pay for it in cash. So i’m not really sure as to how legit our rental is. With that said, about six months ago, tiles started falling out of the wall in our first floor bathroom due to moisture (which we mentioned to the landlord on several occasions but have no proof that we did so). Recently we discovered a black mold attack in the basement directly underneath this bathroom. The mold also happens to be right near the vents. Some of us have been hacking more than our normal smokers coughs and I’m pretty sure all the books I have been storing in the basement must be thrown out (and I have a massive book collection). Is there any way that I can take legal action though we don’t have a copy of the lease and we’re paying the guy in cash? or are we seriously SOL?
Black Mold
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Black Mold
If there is no lease signed and you pay cash, means he can kick you out of there any time. You cannot sue, cannot ask for repairs and cannot do anything.
Legally, you dont have rights in the apartment.
On the good side you can also pick up and go at any time and I would suggest doing just that.
Black mold is very dangerous to your health.
Black Mold
You could try talk to a residential lawyer, or the ones that specialize with properties. there are some different things that you should remember, however, they may not help this time, but maybe in the future.
1) Never pay for rent in cash. Always pay in the form of either a check, bank draft, money order or something like that so that you have legal recourse should a problem like this come up.
2) Always ask for a copy of the lease that you sign on the day that you sign it so that you have a copy of what you signed that you can show a lawyer or other perosn if needed.
3) Always ask a building inspector to check the place that you plan on renting or purchasing to ensure that the codes are up to date, and that there has been no complaints either with building code violations or with health department complaints.
4) Also when storing things that are possibly going to be in the way or not being used, get some waterproof containers those large rough neck things for you to store in these sorts of things in.
Hope that this helps you, and yes I think that you should try to talk with a lawyer, and see what they say.
Black Mold
You probably do have some legal standing but the first thing to do is to get a professional to test the substance to see what type of mold it is. That way you can have some amunition if and when you do some legal action.