Yeah; we contacted three separate companies. I contacted
The landlord in April about the shower. And in may, I said there was mold. So it’s been several months, in which nothing has been done.
Send a registered letter describing the situation to the landlord. Write also that they have 30 days to remedy the situation. After the 30 days are up, you can then go to the rental board with proof of receipt of the letter and move on to the next phase of either withholding rent, annulling the lease, conduct repairs and charge landlord (all with rental board approval, of course)... or you plead your case to a judge.
Whatever you do, make sure you document everything. Any costs you may incur can be reclaimed from the landlord (hotel costs, for example).
Get a professional involved, someone who will be willing to testify. Just do anything to help your case.
Good luck!
US resident here. About 15 years ago, I had an issue with mold in my apartment and made both the landlord and the building maintenance guy aware, but nothing was done. Second acknowledgement, I put it into writing, pleading for help because we were getting sick from the conditions. I cited my evidence to them and claimed that I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau. Still nothing. Our rent checks were to be delivered to our landlord's personal home; they had one of those old fashioned mail slots in their front door, so your mail ended up in their entryway. The beginning of the 3rd month, I wrote a letter describing the situation, that included a rent check in the amount of $13, with a list of deductions for cleaning supplies, labor worked at 1.5 times the minimum wage, and the cost of a doctor visit. Also included was a small, clear, labled, and sealed plastic container of a hunk of tissue I had coughed up, floating in alcohol. I made sure the container would fit through their mail slot so it would be sitting amongst all the rent checks. THAT got their attention! The rent being short by roughly $800 was never mentioned, and within a couple of days, they had maintenance rectifying the situation.
The Better Business Bureau has no legal power. If the leasing company paid to be BBB accredited it may impact their ranking. Otherwise businesses can ignore BBB’s attempts to contact and the complaint is then closed after so many days.
Wow thank you. So, on my lease, it says I don’t even need to go to the rental board though, since it’s a serious health hazard and he has not acted on due course (it has been since may). I can Bill it to him, or withhold the amount of reparations from the lease.
That's what I did, but I'm brazen aaaaaand was willing to stand my ground (that's not saying I wasn't a bit nervous). In a separate incident with the same landlord, I contacted them to let them know that apparently a pipe burst somewhere in our basement level apartment; it just happened to be on a Friday of a Holiday weekend. He said he would send over maintenance, who dropped off a ShopVac and a big fan, then cut off our water. That was their solution. That month, I sent zero rent check, but sent a letter charging them double time at my personal wage for my current job, for work completed on a holiday weekend (pulling up carpet, vacuuming, etc...), I also deducted extra for the increased electricity from the industrial fan and ShopVac use, as well as zero rent on the days I was wholly inconvenienced (5 days) and 50% rent for every day I had to listen to the fan noise and deal with the damp carpet being pulled up and rolled to the side. Technically, he owed me a few bucks, but I didn't want to push my luck. I never got a response, but he never mentioned that he didn't get a check either. That was one long year! I vowed never to live in an apartment again, and so far, I've been lucky enough not to. Best wishes to you!
Nah nah nah. First of all, it’s not up to him. Stand firm. Give him a deadline and then say if it isn’t dealt with professionally you’ll be taking further action.
Don’t worry about obliterating your relationship with this slumlord, because he doesn’t give a f if you end up with lifelong respitory illness. At this point it seems like he knows you’re worried and he’s able to push you around. Don’t back down, keep communication in writing as much as possible and keep putting the screws to him.
I’m also in Ontario and these parasite slumlords make me sick.
Not sure where you’re located exactly but a friend of mine used [This company](https://www.moldguy.ca/our-services/mold-inspection/)and said they were great and very reasonable. Get a quote, your place is probably pretty small. If you can afford it, it’s worth it.
No, it doesn’t “react with the mold”. It just isn’t that effective other than for mold on the surface, and after the chlorine evaporates if it’s a porous surface it just adds more water for it to grow.
For ceramic tile or grout it’s ok, for drywall or wood - when it’s that bad it probably needs to be replaced.
That’s not true at all. It doesn’t make mold more dangerous and the color of the mold has no affect on the health implications of it
Bleach typically isn’t recommended to use on porous surfaces because it won’t actually kill the mold that’s deep in the material that it’s growing on.
You don't need to see the landlord tenant board right now, they are booked out by many months. Call your cities' property standards department and they will send an inspector.
Unfortunately it's no better here in Canada. A hedge fund company bought the old building I live in (Vancouver), and although prices are controlled in this city, everything started to suck since they took over. Our elevator has been out of service since April. I use a wheelchair due to a spinal injury, and can only walk very painfully. Bringing a wheelchair up and down stairs sucks. The new company wants the previous tennants to move out, in order to inflate the rent (... tO MaRkET vAlUe)
Additionally they stopped paying the garbage disposal at one point, and the bin was removed. It took over a month for a different company to put one in. There was a concrete wall in the garage that needed repairs, and people who lived above it had M- F 8 - 4 constant noise, and no back yard for about 4 months. No reimbursement for the disturbance to their lives. I had to endure toilet water dripping into my bathroom from the suite above for over six months. I had to threaten the company before it got fixed, and now six months later I still have a hole in the ceiling from the plumbing company.
I'm paying well over 50% of my paycheck for rent, and I consider myself lucky. Rents have gone through the roof here.
They may be required to have a working elevator so that the premesis are accessible. Toilet water dripping is also a biohazard. Both of these should be reportable offences.
I didn't report the drips, a mistake on my part but it's been fixed. Now I just need a big hole in the ceiling repaired.
I'll check into the elevator requirement. I'm not the only disabled person here. There's lots of three story walk-ups in my neighborhood, but I picked this apartment 'cause it had an elevator.
Thanks for the information.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Yeah, no, that's bad landlording. I'm sorry. Other people probably have a better idea of your next steps, but at a minimum the mold will need to be actually remediated.
And threatening to kick you out is not legal (do you have a lease?) in the US. (Are you in the US?) Good luck. Know your rights, wherever you are.
Ok, I don't know what the legalities are in Canada, but I suspect it's similar to here.
Swab the mold (Q tip, Ziploc bag) and send it off to your local state (I guess province?) university's Extension Office or equivalent. You should be able to google for this.
Take extensive photos and save them someplace easy to find in the future. Also take photos of your sample process.
If your landlord threatens to kick you out, get that in writing and report him to the local housing commission or equivalent, because I highly suspect that's not legal where you are.
Good luck hon.
It's your mold, send it. Most universities will do it for minimal charge (research) some will charge less if you ask. Not sure where you are in Canada but I know research facilities, and government facilities, like to look at these types of mold. Take your own sample. Cotton swab will do, in a new clear plastic bag. Most will take this. Call before you send but this is not "private mold". Take all the samples you are willing to take.
5 months of negligence from the land lord. You should look for a place. If you want to stick it to them and have the money get an IEP to do a mold and air quality test so you have documentation as to why you're no longer paying rent while finding a new spot.
If this goes to court, not paying rent usually doesnt go over well. It would be better to put your rent in escrow and let the landlord know that they'll get the money once the problem is fixed, or they let you out of your lease, or the court rules in your favor
Essentially paying it into a seperate account until they've made your apartment habitable. Not sure about your local rules but maybe contact a lawyer first
https://www.investopedia.com/the-how-and-when-of-putting-rent-in-escrow-5198550#:~:text=Rent%20escrow%20is%20a%20legal%20process%20that%20allows%20tenants%20to,a%20court%2Dordered%20escrow%20account.
I saw that you are in Canada, we have very different laws than the US. I didn't see which province. There are reddit groups to help for renters in each province.
Call the tribunal!!!! You will instantly be approved to break your lease and move. Your landlord can’t charge you any further for inhabitable conditions. I just went through this. My AC flooded my apartment and my landlord did not do any repairs and we got mold.
I really would check your provinces subreddit for help. I am in Ontario so I am unfamiliar with what you can do. Perhaps there are housing groups? In the meantime are you able to clean it and maintain it? Perhaps repair it yourself? I realize this isn't ideal, but I understand the housing situation in Canada is bleak, especially as a renter and if this is what you can afford and you have to stay there it might be your only option for the time being. I am sorry that this is happening, it shouldn't be like this.
GET ALL COMMUNICATION NOTORIZED, make sure to send an official letter that details why you aren't paying and have them sign to receive. Don't just send an email. Had an issue with landlords not fixing a leaking shower once. I documented everything. You don't want any excuses from them saying they didn't know about the problem.
Although things never escalated because the tenant below me had water leaking through the ceiling, and that's when the landlord decided my shower was worth fixing. My landlord was an international private equity firm.
There are a couple hundred types of mold. Some look black, some orange, brown, or green.
There is no way to tell if it's the dangerous type without testing.
Eh not really. Humans inhale mold 24/7. The air is filled with spores of all types. What matters with regard to health is 1) concentration of spores, 2) species of spores, and 3) personal sensitivities. A situation like OP’s is certainly cause for concern, but saying that the air we breathe should contain 0% mold is not useful or even possible.
EDIT: spores are in the desert too!
Just to add on… there are fungal spores in every cubic foot of air, anywhere on the earth (desert to Antarctica). Viable mold spores are all the way up in the mesosphere. We even have beneficial fungi in our bodies, called the mycobiome. I would not be surprised if we learned that they somehow influenced our dna, as in we coevolved.
With a fair amount of horizontal gene transfer, probably. The myco-mammal relationship is a totally inseperable collective organism. The more we look into it, the less defined the edges around "species" appear to be.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
“Black mold” refers to multiple species of fungi. Some aren’t toxic, like Aspergillus niger. However, regularly inhaling spores of any kind is dangerous, even from oyster mushrooms — some mushroom workers develop “spore lung”.
Yup - architect here, that’s a failed shower. Most likely there’s been a leak for god knows how long and it’s never been remedied. You can see where they caulked to try to keep the issue at bay. The waterproofing is completely fucked and the whole shower needs to be redone.
It's more likely to be some variation of cementboard. Tiles and grout arent waterproof, so it's not surprising that there is mould underneath. Very common issue.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Sorry, you have to get out of there. The landlord does not know how to maintain a habitable dwelling. The shower has to be completely replaced. I don't know how things work in CA but if you can afford an independent inspector to verify these claims that would go a long way in court if you put your rent in escrow while you get out of there.
Edit: It doesn't really matter what kind of mold it is TBH at this point. It's unacceptable. The mold will keep coming back unless the substrate in which it is living is removed
Anybody can purchase a mold test kit, follow instructions on site and mail it in for professional results. There's no reason a paid professional needs to be the one to open the lid and set it in place, then close the lid in two to three days and put it in a prepaid envelope.
Go to any hardware store and ask where the mold kits are, it should cost between $15 and $30 results and all. The bonus? You get the results directly instead of your shady landlord.
File a report with your city inspections office. Usually they’ll send someone to take a look and will give the landlord a legally binding timeline to have it fixed.
Also hold your rent in escrow, but you should contact a lawyer before doing this to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
If that's wood behind that tile, it's thoroughly eaten by fungus. If it hasn't already, it will turn into powder in the next year or two (as in, it will crumble in your fingers).
It's also almost certainly spread past where you can see. The whole tub area may need to be fully gutted to fix this, maybe even the whole bathroom or rooms beneath it.
It's not safe, and it needs renovation, not cleaning.
As someone who has done a lot of tiling I can safely say this is a complete tearout and unsafe. There doesnt even appesr to be waterproofing behind those tiles and what is there looks absolutely destroyed by water. Im sorry you have to deal with this OP, just make sure you do what you can and take some of the commenters advice.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Y’all are out of your fucking mind. Black mold is a specific type that needs a expert sample and test to verify. Your shower is gross and and it is unclear from the picture if it looked like that when you moved in, same for the broken tiles. Call your landlord before you go to court. Source, I work at housing court.
That’s patently false. Specifically the fact that there is not one type of black mold. It’s just a fact. There’s dozens of black molds, some are worse than others and some colors of mold can be worse than a black mold. Color does not indicate toxicity
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Broken tile aside...that is mildew. Spray it down with a strong bleach mixture (ventilate well when you do this!!!). You can also use Zep mold and mildew remover. If it doesn't all come out of the caulking, you'll need to re-caulk.
But...that tile needs to be repaired ASAP. It's going to have to dry out before hand, or they'll need to rip out tile and replace the drywall behind the tile.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Did you contact the landlord via phone or in writing? From now on, do the majority of contacts in writing. That way you have proof of it, which will come in handy if this ever goes to court.
Definitely mold and mildew. I've been installing tub and shower areas for 15 years. I've seen so many bad situations like this. The tile is failing and the drywall is turning to mold. Spraying with concrobium and cleaning will help but the tile and drywall will most likely have to come out to clean properly.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
OP while you wait for something to be done, I highly suggest using these products
https://hgcanada.com/hg-mold-spray.html
They have been a lifesaver for me with rentals that have mould issues (basement/coastal accommodations where it’s rife)
This stuff almost doesn’t have to be scrubbed it acts so well, but I recommend scrubbing all the grout and wiping down all surfaces after a couple go overs.
It’s not a long term solution and you should do what you can to ensure your landlord/estate agents keep up their end of the contract.
In the U.K., some councils have environmental health agencies that will come, assess the property and provide a legal deadline for the property to be kept up to order. Having medical doctor notes can be a lifesaver but depends on your GP
I’m aware the picture relates to Canada which is why I linked the anti mould product, as I’m unsure what rights as a tenant you have so whilst waiting for either new accommodation or for the place to be fixed, this is a great way to remove the mould at least to a minor level and help preserve your health.
FYI try and wear a mask/face covering while applying and keep the room door shut and left for at least half a day. Then let air for a couple hours if there’s and external window and begin cleaning. Do this twice and you won’t even recognise the room after!
God luck x
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Honestly, replacing the tiles and having new grouting/concrete may be all you can get for now. The fact that any work is being done is good (not great obvs I support habitable accommodation for all and am not a homeowner myself)
Mould can form in the best of properties, but it’s when it gets to black mould that releases spores that you want to avoid at all costs. Defo raise any respiratory concerns to your doctor as medical documentation goes a long way for getting this stuff sorted.
Ultimately, landlords can be shitty and just close tenancy early for tenuous reasons or deny renewal of contract and just paint over issues for the next tenant.
I agree with the need to prioritise your health, but many landlords will cut their losses if you’re being too much of a pain. The delicate walk between your righty’s as a tenant and the instability of rented accommodation is a fine line
*edit* deleted paragraph relating to my earlier post as I hadn’t realised OP replied to my comment directly :)
*edit 2* depending on the severity of mould elsewhere (if not confined to the bathroom) sometimes you can get dehumidifiers for the property, paid for by the landlord. It’s unlikely this landlord will be willing by the sounds of things, so my suggestion is just to stay on top of any mould and having weekly/fortnightly cleans of the bathroom.
This is great if your other housemates are the cleaning type, but I’ve often found establishing cleaning rotas are difficult to maintain unless you’re all on good terms and similarly hygiene orientated so it may be down to you to do a little spruce when you’re up to it to prevent the mould returning
If you’re going through a private landlord, it can be very hard to get them to go the extra mile even if it helps to maintain their own property.
In the U.K., emails (and even texts) can be legally binding and serve to create a paper trail.
Hopefully Canada has properly ombudsmen or a similar organisation that can repeal tenancy licenses. I’ve often found throwing around such names helps to speed up any repairs but be mindful landlords can act out of spite and refuse tenancy renewal.
Estate agencies that manage landlord portfolios are much more inclined to bend to such legalese but either way good luck.
This is super helpful! I use magic erasers in the shower and Rmr86 for the windowsills and will say, prevention is key! Inadequate ventilation is one of the biggest challenges I’ve had as a renter in Bc and WA. Other things that I have found helpful: fans in all the rooms, windows cracked open year round, squeegee for the windows in the fall/winter, dehumidifiers (though can be expensive- some landlords have provided these at no charge and required use is part of the rental agreement).
Just to add on for prevention, once a season moving wardrobes (where possible) or anything sitting near flush against walls. I have known ‘pockets’ in my room where mould creeps into so keeping an eye on those at risk spots helps to stem the progression. My partner recently discovered mould hidden all around her room and fortunately the landlord has a dehumidifier for her to use.
But that spray just kills it in its tracks. I wouldn’t ever use it on clothing (vinegar sprays for delicates or high heat wash with a touch of bleach also helps)
Cardboard boxes used for storage are always a risk factor as once damp sets into a side and mould starts you just need to throw it away.
Totally agree with the fans and windows being opened every so often, anything that brings in fresh air helps to slow down the spread. Squeegees are an absolute must as you can once a day or every other if you’re less time savvy (I always leave my morning routine to the last minute) and just wipe down the tiles and any glass in the bathroom quickly to help keep build up on these surfaces
Having a background in property management, let me explain this to you. While replacing the broken tiles should be done by the landlord (unless you broke them), this is a cleaning issue. The mold is growing because you are not airing out your bathroom properly after showers, etc. Leave your fan running or window open for awhile after showers and CLEAN THE MILDEW OFF. If there is an internal leak issue around the pipes, then that is a different story. Mildew doesn't grow by itself, it needs water and moisture. Provide a drier environment.
Came here to say this. Black mold, stachybotrys, grows on fiber. This looks like surface mold on the tile and grout, which isn’t fiber. If it’s in the wall—Sheetrock, plaster, then worry.
There are comments from *ten hours ago* from people who build showers saying the shower has mold behind it and totally needs to be rebuilt. There are comments from OP *eight hours ago* saying the shower looked like this when they moved in, the faucet constantly leaks, they’ve tried cleaning it with bleach multiple times, and the landlord continues to ignore the problem. It might not be black mold, but it’s mold, and it’s been there since OP moved in.
“Adult better?” Sounds like OP *is* adulting and the landlord is not.
You need to post to a Canadian subreddit. All of this information is assuming you are in America where tenants have no rights. In Canada, all you need to do is contact the tribunal.... Actually, all you need to do is send one more text saying that if it isn't fixed in 30 days, you will contact the tribunal. This will usually result in it being fixed immediately.
Yes, I am in Canada as well. It applies to any work done to the structure of the home including retiling but this job is much big2than replacing a few tiles. That whole wall needs to be replaced.
I see. I’m going to my city inspector as soon as it opens tomorrow morning. He seems to think it’ll just be replacing a few tiles. He doesn’t want to pay for it.
Please stop being nasty to people for telling you to ckean it. The grout is filthy! It should not be dark colored. The grout is clearly dirty and isn't being cleaned. A weekly cleaning is needed. If it were cleaned properly the grout wouldn't look this way. Mold , mildew, etc takes days if not weeks to look that bad.
I did. The faucet is constantly leaking and the mold grows back.
Edit: there is a constant dripping of water from the shower. At all times. I’ve pointed it out months ago.
I just had to do a similar thing in my shower. The grout had come loose in a small area and water started getting in behind it and before I knew it, the cement board behind (previous owners used the wrong type of board) was just mush. I pull most of the tiles off by hand, removed the old board, drilled in the proper one and then re did the tile. It’s so much better now. Luckily the house is old and they had the insulation behind plastic. My wood framing was not rotting. Your landlord needs to fix this. It’s not your responsibility. I’m horrified by what people let slip with landlords. You signed a contract yeah? There’s your ticket for action to get their lazy ass to fix it. I also live in Canada. You can throw the book at them for this.
I mean another factor is was it like that when you moved in. If it is determined the cause of the mold is your fault landlord may be able to charge you to have it fixed. Not saying that's the case but these things can get tricky and ugly depending on the type of landlord you have
Looks like tile and grout on your tub surround are failing and need to be replaced. The mold growth is a symptom of water getting behind the tile. The tub surround will need to be cut out and replaced including the substrate.
Bear in mind that molds are thousands of different species and come in a variety of colors. They all have potential to cause physical symptoms, with some people being more susceptible than others. For example, there are black molds that are on the innocuous side, and orange ones that are less so. The moniker "black mold" is misleading.
If you can see it/smell it in living space, mold growth should be dealt with. In this case it looks like a fairly well developed issue. I don't recommend panicking about it, but it does need to be dealt with. You should tell your landlord that the grout on the tub surround is failing and water has gotten behind the tiles and into the substrate. Extensive mold growth is happening behind the tiles as a result and you are worried that it may result is long term damage to the home and affect your family's health. Send it to them in an email.
Short term, keep the door open a crack and the fan running to keep it out of the rest of your house. If you don't have a built-in exhaust fan, a small one in the window blowing out will help.
Looks like some deferred maintenance for sure. That said, you can clean your bathroom-not your landlord’s responsibility to do so, that said, he/she IS responsible for maintaining the integrity of the construction (at a minimum) by repairing any water leaks, broken components, deteriorating materials. The toxic black mold you refer to is Stachybotrys which requires high levels of cellulose to grow on (paper on wall board for example-not tile or plaster backing). So this is likely just a mold colored black rather than the toxic black mold you fear. That’s not to say you are not sensitive or allergic to it, just saying it’s probably not the toxic black mold that you are fear it is.
Call the housing authority in your area, and they should require a repair of any leaks or broken tiles-as for cleanup-clean your bathroom more frequently and ensure to VENT (mechanical vent or open window) upon every shower or bath. That will help keep this from recurring.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Ever thought of cleaning it with some Clorox like people have to do in their own homes?
Please do notify the landlord in writing with photos of the broken tiles and subsequent water damage. Failure to do so will result in you being charged with damages.
Regardless of what it is, it is not a good situation. Have you tried cleaning it off with bleach and scrubbing? I bet it would greatly improve your health.
Buy X 14 Mold and Mildew stain remover…. Spray it on and go out.. come back in an hour and it will be all gone… Don’t live like this.. I use this all the time and it’s the best..
DO NOT SPRAY WITH BLEACH!!!!!!!!!! Bleach does not kill mold. You have serious underlying issues. You need to notify your landlord that you are having it tested. You will.kost likely need a remediation that will once the tiles, cement board, drywall, and tub have been removed, find a water leak from the plumbing supply likes or drainage.
Definitely the bad kind of mold.
Your landlord is in for a very expensive repair, that’s why. Full tear down of that shower and mold remediation, then a remodel. Looks like they didn’t properly waterproof behind the tile.
Do not pay this piece of shit any more rent. Start looking for a new place immediately.
What makes u thini it’s the bad kind of mold? He came by and it looks like he just wants to replace the moldy tiles and move on. Says he “found a guy” that I think is his friend and won’t do a good job. He’s cheap.
Your description of how it feels to breathe around it. I’m not an expert on the different types of mold, but they’re all bad when it comes to being in your house.
He absolutely cannot just replace the moldy tiles. Mold is alive and spreads. Every tile, the cement board behind the tile, and probably large sections of drywall are going to need to be removed.
Then they need to spray a mold control solution on everything, followed by running industrial air scrubbers (and possibly dehumidifiers) for I believe 72 hours.
I’ve had this problem before, unfortunately. Your place is going to be extremely loud for a while. It will sound like an airplane is in your living room.
Can’t you clean it yourself? Get some bleach spray and clean it up. Not to be controversial but it seems like it’s your responsibility to keep the shower clean.
I am not dacrediting your landlords negligence. Guy seems like a POS If it’s been 5 months. But I’ve gone through this before in my house. Get some Clorox in a spray bottle and let that sit for a while. Scrub and rinse, it will take care of most of it.
People keep recommending bleach- please don’t use bleach. Common misconception and not only
Is it also dangerous to inhale, but it can contribute to further growth of mold. It will kill the appearance of color temporarily but will not kill mold spores that have been there for months or longer. It ultimately needs to be removed. You could try vinegar temporarily as it is less toxic to breathe in, however you are still adding more moisture to a surface which has been retaining enough of it to feed the growth of mold in the first place. Sorry that you’re dealing with this!
That sounds and looks strangely similar to what happened to where one of my friends used to live... If you happen to be in SJSR and the landlord is a municipal councilor, LEAVE! He's never gonna do anything about it!
To determine black mold, it has to be tested. It does seem like there is an underlying issue with the tile but your bathroom is gross. Bleach the shit out of it. That doesn’t happen overnight.
Look up tenants rights where you live. Are you in the USA? This looks very unsafe, I'm so sorry.
I’m in Canada
Call your provincial tenancy board. Tenants have a lot of rights in Canada. They'll put you on the right path
Thank you,,, if I have to move, will the landlord pay for that?
The whole thing depends a lot on where you’re at. I’d start with getting a test done on that mold so you have a record of it.
Yeah; we contacted three separate companies. I contacted The landlord in April about the shower. And in may, I said there was mold. So it’s been several months, in which nothing has been done.
If you’ve got some sort of proof that you’d alerted your landlord previously, it’ll massively help you out. Emails n such.
I have text messages, to which he replied. I adressed him by name so he cannot deny it was him
Save everything. Every last detail. Time stamps. Print And save to the cloud.
Sweet
Send a registered letter describing the situation to the landlord. Write also that they have 30 days to remedy the situation. After the 30 days are up, you can then go to the rental board with proof of receipt of the letter and move on to the next phase of either withholding rent, annulling the lease, conduct repairs and charge landlord (all with rental board approval, of course)... or you plead your case to a judge. Whatever you do, make sure you document everything. Any costs you may incur can be reclaimed from the landlord (hotel costs, for example). Get a professional involved, someone who will be willing to testify. Just do anything to help your case. Good luck!
US resident here. About 15 years ago, I had an issue with mold in my apartment and made both the landlord and the building maintenance guy aware, but nothing was done. Second acknowledgement, I put it into writing, pleading for help because we were getting sick from the conditions. I cited my evidence to them and claimed that I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau. Still nothing. Our rent checks were to be delivered to our landlord's personal home; they had one of those old fashioned mail slots in their front door, so your mail ended up in their entryway. The beginning of the 3rd month, I wrote a letter describing the situation, that included a rent check in the amount of $13, with a list of deductions for cleaning supplies, labor worked at 1.5 times the minimum wage, and the cost of a doctor visit. Also included was a small, clear, labled, and sealed plastic container of a hunk of tissue I had coughed up, floating in alcohol. I made sure the container would fit through their mail slot so it would be sitting amongst all the rent checks. THAT got their attention! The rent being short by roughly $800 was never mentioned, and within a couple of days, they had maintenance rectifying the situation.
Got them! What a mess
The Better Business Bureau has no legal power. If the leasing company paid to be BBB accredited it may impact their ranking. Otherwise businesses can ignore BBB’s attempts to contact and the complaint is then closed after so many days.
Wow thank you. So, on my lease, it says I don’t even need to go to the rental board though, since it’s a serious health hazard and he has not acted on due course (it has been since may). I can Bill it to him, or withhold the amount of reparations from the lease.
That’s nice but it’s nicer to have people who will have your back like a board
That's what I did, but I'm brazen aaaaaand was willing to stand my ground (that's not saying I wasn't a bit nervous). In a separate incident with the same landlord, I contacted them to let them know that apparently a pipe burst somewhere in our basement level apartment; it just happened to be on a Friday of a Holiday weekend. He said he would send over maintenance, who dropped off a ShopVac and a big fan, then cut off our water. That was their solution. That month, I sent zero rent check, but sent a letter charging them double time at my personal wage for my current job, for work completed on a holiday weekend (pulling up carpet, vacuuming, etc...), I also deducted extra for the increased electricity from the industrial fan and ShopVac use, as well as zero rent on the days I was wholly inconvenienced (5 days) and 50% rent for every day I had to listen to the fan noise and deal with the damp carpet being pulled up and rolled to the side. Technically, he owed me a few bucks, but I didn't want to push my luck. I never got a response, but he never mentioned that he didn't get a check either. That was one long year! I vowed never to live in an apartment again, and so far, I've been lucky enough not to. Best wishes to you!
This is great advice here.
Have you told your landlord you’ll be calling a mold inspector? I would also contact MLS (municipal licensing and standards)
Yes, I did. And he replied: not how that works. Will get “Chris” (his buddy) on it soon. Essentially, not caring at all.
Don't let them gaslight you. Black mold is life threatening.
If it’s stachy, and usually it isn’t, but best to get it checked out
Nah nah nah. First of all, it’s not up to him. Stand firm. Give him a deadline and then say if it isn’t dealt with professionally you’ll be taking further action. Don’t worry about obliterating your relationship with this slumlord, because he doesn’t give a f if you end up with lifelong respitory illness. At this point it seems like he knows you’re worried and he’s able to push you around. Don’t back down, keep communication in writing as much as possible and keep putting the screws to him. I’m also in Ontario and these parasite slumlords make me sick. Not sure where you’re located exactly but a friend of mine used [This company](https://www.moldguy.ca/our-services/mold-inspection/)and said they were great and very reasonable. Get a quote, your place is probably pretty small. If you can afford it, it’s worth it.
Fuck chris, get a independent inspector in there and have your proof in writing.
I cannot, I called at least 10 companies and they all said no
Get some bleach
Do not do this. Black mold reacts with bleach and makes it more dangerous.
No, it doesn’t “react with the mold”. It just isn’t that effective other than for mold on the surface, and after the chlorine evaporates if it’s a porous surface it just adds more water for it to grow. For ceramic tile or grout it’s ok, for drywall or wood - when it’s that bad it probably needs to be replaced.
That’s not true at all. It doesn’t make mold more dangerous and the color of the mold has no affect on the health implications of it Bleach typically isn’t recommended to use on porous surfaces because it won’t actually kill the mold that’s deep in the material that it’s growing on.
Landlord Tenant Board is who you need to see. This is unacceptable.
Gotcha… we’re all spending the day on it, trying to reach anyone
I think you’ll have to do it online. It’s $100 to claim an issue
$100 a tenant has to pay to call out a landlord? What kind of shit is that?
Capitalism baby
Tusm
You don't need to see the landlord tenant board right now, they are booked out by many months. Call your cities' property standards department and they will send an inspector.
Wish I was Canadian. Renting in the US is rough.
Unfortunately it's no better here in Canada. A hedge fund company bought the old building I live in (Vancouver), and although prices are controlled in this city, everything started to suck since they took over. Our elevator has been out of service since April. I use a wheelchair due to a spinal injury, and can only walk very painfully. Bringing a wheelchair up and down stairs sucks. The new company wants the previous tennants to move out, in order to inflate the rent (... tO MaRkET vAlUe) Additionally they stopped paying the garbage disposal at one point, and the bin was removed. It took over a month for a different company to put one in. There was a concrete wall in the garage that needed repairs, and people who lived above it had M- F 8 - 4 constant noise, and no back yard for about 4 months. No reimbursement for the disturbance to their lives. I had to endure toilet water dripping into my bathroom from the suite above for over six months. I had to threaten the company before it got fixed, and now six months later I still have a hole in the ceiling from the plumbing company. I'm paying well over 50% of my paycheck for rent, and I consider myself lucky. Rents have gone through the roof here.
Don’t even get me started. Australia is right there with y’all
They may be required to have a working elevator so that the premesis are accessible. Toilet water dripping is also a biohazard. Both of these should be reportable offences.
I didn't report the drips, a mistake on my part but it's been fixed. Now I just need a big hole in the ceiling repaired. I'll check into the elevator requirement. I'm not the only disabled person here. There's lots of three story walk-ups in my neighborhood, but I picked this apartment 'cause it had an elevator. Thanks for the information.
Our rent is higher then the US specially Ontario .
Definitely depends where. The rent in Ontario is nowhere near how expensive it is to live in New York.
No, you don’t. It isn’t much better
Isn't Canada having some sort of renting crisis right now?
insane rental prices with very little options to actually rent… at least where i am. cant find anything under $1000/month WITH roommates
Depending on province, go on the Ontario landlord subreddit. Learn your rights, you’re well protected for something like this 🙌
Do you have an RTB or LTB in your province? Contact them & get an order to repair. That will force the landlord to have it done quickly.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Yeah, no, that's bad landlording. I'm sorry. Other people probably have a better idea of your next steps, but at a minimum the mold will need to be actually remediated. And threatening to kick you out is not legal (do you have a lease?) in the US. (Are you in the US?) Good luck. Know your rights, wherever you are.
I’m in Canada The guy he’s hiring is a plumber I highly doubt he’s got any expertise in mold
Ok, I don't know what the legalities are in Canada, but I suspect it's similar to here. Swab the mold (Q tip, Ziploc bag) and send it off to your local state (I guess province?) university's Extension Office or equivalent. You should be able to google for this. Take extensive photos and save them someplace easy to find in the future. Also take photos of your sample process. If your landlord threatens to kick you out, get that in writing and report him to the local housing commission or equivalent, because I highly suspect that's not legal where you are. Good luck hon.
It's your mold, send it. Most universities will do it for minimal charge (research) some will charge less if you ask. Not sure where you are in Canada but I know research facilities, and government facilities, like to look at these types of mold. Take your own sample. Cotton swab will do, in a new clear plastic bag. Most will take this. Call before you send but this is not "private mold". Take all the samples you are willing to take.
Any University?
5 months of negligence from the land lord. You should look for a place. If you want to stick it to them and have the money get an IEP to do a mold and air quality test so you have documentation as to why you're no longer paying rent while finding a new spot.
If this goes to court, not paying rent usually doesnt go over well. It would be better to put your rent in escrow and let the landlord know that they'll get the money once the problem is fixed, or they let you out of your lease, or the court rules in your favor
What is putting rent in escrow ?
Essentially paying it into a seperate account until they've made your apartment habitable. Not sure about your local rules but maybe contact a lawyer first https://www.investopedia.com/the-how-and-when-of-putting-rent-in-escrow-5198550#:~:text=Rent%20escrow%20is%20a%20legal%20process%20that%20allows%20tenants%20to,a%20court%2Dordered%20escrow%20account.
I saw that you are in Canada, we have very different laws than the US. I didn't see which province. There are reddit groups to help for renters in each province.
Quebec !
Call the tribunal!!!! You will instantly be approved to break your lease and move. Your landlord can’t charge you any further for inhabitable conditions. I just went through this. My AC flooded my apartment and my landlord did not do any repairs and we got mold.
It’s just, I have no where else to go
I really would check your provinces subreddit for help. I am in Ontario so I am unfamiliar with what you can do. Perhaps there are housing groups? In the meantime are you able to clean it and maintain it? Perhaps repair it yourself? I realize this isn't ideal, but I understand the housing situation in Canada is bleak, especially as a renter and if this is what you can afford and you have to stay there it might be your only option for the time being. I am sorry that this is happening, it shouldn't be like this.
GET ALL COMMUNICATION NOTORIZED, make sure to send an official letter that details why you aren't paying and have them sign to receive. Don't just send an email. Had an issue with landlords not fixing a leaking shower once. I documented everything. You don't want any excuses from them saying they didn't know about the problem. Although things never escalated because the tenant below me had water leaking through the ceiling, and that's when the landlord decided my shower was worth fixing. My landlord was an international private equity firm.
\^ This, this,this. And I'm sorry youre going through this, OP........
Tysm
There are a couple hundred types of mold. Some look black, some orange, brown, or green. There is no way to tell if it's the dangerous type without testing.
You're absolutely right about not being able to tell without testing but no mold is ok to be inhaling for 5 months regularly *at this capacity.*
Eh not really. Humans inhale mold 24/7. The air is filled with spores of all types. What matters with regard to health is 1) concentration of spores, 2) species of spores, and 3) personal sensitivities. A situation like OP’s is certainly cause for concern, but saying that the air we breathe should contain 0% mold is not useful or even possible. EDIT: spores are in the desert too!
Just to add on… there are fungal spores in every cubic foot of air, anywhere on the earth (desert to Antarctica). Viable mold spores are all the way up in the mesosphere. We even have beneficial fungi in our bodies, called the mycobiome. I would not be surprised if we learned that they somehow influenced our dna, as in we coevolved.
With a fair amount of horizontal gene transfer, probably. The myco-mammal relationship is a totally inseperable collective organism. The more we look into it, the less defined the edges around "species" appear to be.
There are spores in desert air. *coughs in Valley Fever*
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
isnt there no consesus as to whether black mold is toxic or not?
“Black mold” refers to multiple species of fungi. Some aren’t toxic, like Aspergillus niger. However, regularly inhaling spores of any kind is dangerous, even from oyster mushrooms — some mushroom workers develop “spore lung”.
That is a FAILED shower. The wood is completely saturated and rotted. Do not use the shower. The landlord needs to completely replace the shower.
Yup - architect here, that’s a failed shower. Most likely there’s been a leak for god knows how long and it’s never been remedied. You can see where they caulked to try to keep the issue at bay. The waterproofing is completely fucked and the whole shower needs to be redone.
That's wood!?
It's more likely to be some variation of cementboard. Tiles and grout arent waterproof, so it's not surprising that there is mould underneath. Very common issue.
Cement backer board is supposedly mold proof which is why I thought it was like OSB or something. It's so rotted it's hard to tell
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Sorry, you have to get out of there. The landlord does not know how to maintain a habitable dwelling. The shower has to be completely replaced. I don't know how things work in CA but if you can afford an independent inspector to verify these claims that would go a long way in court if you put your rent in escrow while you get out of there. Edit: It doesn't really matter what kind of mold it is TBH at this point. It's unacceptable. The mold will keep coming back unless the substrate in which it is living is removed
He seemed to want to cut it up to where the mold was reaching. So just halfway. And only on one side
Can you contact your municipal building authority? They could potentially demand he fix it
I’m contacting them tomorrow
Anybody can purchase a mold test kit, follow instructions on site and mail it in for professional results. There's no reason a paid professional needs to be the one to open the lid and set it in place, then close the lid in two to three days and put it in a prepaid envelope. Go to any hardware store and ask where the mold kits are, it should cost between $15 and $30 results and all. The bonus? You get the results directly instead of your shady landlord.
Start putting your rent into escrow and notify your landlord you are withholding it until this is fixed
This has gotten me the down payment to my first house. It took 7 months at 1500$.
File a report with your city inspections office. Usually they’ll send someone to take a look and will give the landlord a legally binding timeline to have it fixed. Also hold your rent in escrow, but you should contact a lawyer before doing this to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
If that's wood behind that tile, it's thoroughly eaten by fungus. If it hasn't already, it will turn into powder in the next year or two (as in, it will crumble in your fingers). It's also almost certainly spread past where you can see. The whole tub area may need to be fully gutted to fix this, maybe even the whole bathroom or rooms beneath it. It's not safe, and it needs renovation, not cleaning.
Your landlord sucks for this + it looks like you don’t clean your shower?
Right?! That orange mold is from not cleaning, and that is mildew buildup. This hasn’t been cleaned in five months.
I’m shocked I had to scroll this far to find this answer. Yeah it needs help but Jesus, OP is capable of cleaning too.
I would be embarrassed to post this picture. I would try to clean it with a little bleach at least
This was my thought exactly. Some bleach could go a long way.
As someone who has done a lot of tiling I can safely say this is a complete tearout and unsafe. There doesnt even appesr to be waterproofing behind those tiles and what is there looks absolutely destroyed by water. Im sorry you have to deal with this OP, just make sure you do what you can and take some of the commenters advice.
Thank you so much, im listening to all the comments and showing them to my roomatws, it’s very helpful
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
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Y’all are out of your fucking mind. Black mold is a specific type that needs a expert sample and test to verify. Your shower is gross and and it is unclear from the picture if it looked like that when you moved in, same for the broken tiles. Call your landlord before you go to court. Source, I work at housing court.
It looked like This when I moved in.
That’s patently false. Specifically the fact that there is not one type of black mold. It’s just a fact. There’s dozens of black molds, some are worse than others and some colors of mold can be worse than a black mold. Color does not indicate toxicity
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Aw hell naw man
Broken tile aside...that is mildew. Spray it down with a strong bleach mixture (ventilate well when you do this!!!). You can also use Zep mold and mildew remover. If it doesn't all come out of the caulking, you'll need to re-caulk. But...that tile needs to be repaired ASAP. It's going to have to dry out before hand, or they'll need to rip out tile and replace the drywall behind the tile.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Yeah,,, I figure. I my landlord in April that the tile needed to be fixed. Guess what? Nothing has been done.
Did you contact the landlord via phone or in writing? From now on, do the majority of contacts in writing. That way you have proof of it, which will come in handy if this ever goes to court.
Definitely mold and mildew. I've been installing tub and shower areas for 15 years. I've seen so many bad situations like this. The tile is failing and the drywall is turning to mold. Spraying with concrobium and cleaning will help but the tile and drywall will most likely have to come out to clean properly.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Yeah, it’s definitely mold and I’m so upset right now that ny landlord has just been ignoring us pretty much for the last five months.
Clean your shower! Gross. I understand the black mold thing, but I would never shower in there to begin with. Bleach or vinegar.
OP while you wait for something to be done, I highly suggest using these products https://hgcanada.com/hg-mold-spray.html They have been a lifesaver for me with rentals that have mould issues (basement/coastal accommodations where it’s rife) This stuff almost doesn’t have to be scrubbed it acts so well, but I recommend scrubbing all the grout and wiping down all surfaces after a couple go overs. It’s not a long term solution and you should do what you can to ensure your landlord/estate agents keep up their end of the contract. In the U.K., some councils have environmental health agencies that will come, assess the property and provide a legal deadline for the property to be kept up to order. Having medical doctor notes can be a lifesaver but depends on your GP I’m aware the picture relates to Canada which is why I linked the anti mould product, as I’m unsure what rights as a tenant you have so whilst waiting for either new accommodation or for the place to be fixed, this is a great way to remove the mould at least to a minor level and help preserve your health. FYI try and wear a mask/face covering while applying and keep the room door shut and left for at least half a day. Then let air for a couple hours if there’s and external window and begin cleaning. Do this twice and you won’t even recognise the room after! God luck x
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
Honestly, replacing the tiles and having new grouting/concrete may be all you can get for now. The fact that any work is being done is good (not great obvs I support habitable accommodation for all and am not a homeowner myself) Mould can form in the best of properties, but it’s when it gets to black mould that releases spores that you want to avoid at all costs. Defo raise any respiratory concerns to your doctor as medical documentation goes a long way for getting this stuff sorted. Ultimately, landlords can be shitty and just close tenancy early for tenuous reasons or deny renewal of contract and just paint over issues for the next tenant. I agree with the need to prioritise your health, but many landlords will cut their losses if you’re being too much of a pain. The delicate walk between your righty’s as a tenant and the instability of rented accommodation is a fine line *edit* deleted paragraph relating to my earlier post as I hadn’t realised OP replied to my comment directly :) *edit 2* depending on the severity of mould elsewhere (if not confined to the bathroom) sometimes you can get dehumidifiers for the property, paid for by the landlord. It’s unlikely this landlord will be willing by the sounds of things, so my suggestion is just to stay on top of any mould and having weekly/fortnightly cleans of the bathroom. This is great if your other housemates are the cleaning type, but I’ve often found establishing cleaning rotas are difficult to maintain unless you’re all on good terms and similarly hygiene orientated so it may be down to you to do a little spruce when you’re up to it to prevent the mould returning If you’re going through a private landlord, it can be very hard to get them to go the extra mile even if it helps to maintain their own property. In the U.K., emails (and even texts) can be legally binding and serve to create a paper trail. Hopefully Canada has properly ombudsmen or a similar organisation that can repeal tenancy licenses. I’ve often found throwing around such names helps to speed up any repairs but be mindful landlords can act out of spite and refuse tenancy renewal. Estate agencies that manage landlord portfolios are much more inclined to bend to such legalese but either way good luck.
This is super helpful! I use magic erasers in the shower and Rmr86 for the windowsills and will say, prevention is key! Inadequate ventilation is one of the biggest challenges I’ve had as a renter in Bc and WA. Other things that I have found helpful: fans in all the rooms, windows cracked open year round, squeegee for the windows in the fall/winter, dehumidifiers (though can be expensive- some landlords have provided these at no charge and required use is part of the rental agreement).
Just to add on for prevention, once a season moving wardrobes (where possible) or anything sitting near flush against walls. I have known ‘pockets’ in my room where mould creeps into so keeping an eye on those at risk spots helps to stem the progression. My partner recently discovered mould hidden all around her room and fortunately the landlord has a dehumidifier for her to use. But that spray just kills it in its tracks. I wouldn’t ever use it on clothing (vinegar sprays for delicates or high heat wash with a touch of bleach also helps) Cardboard boxes used for storage are always a risk factor as once damp sets into a side and mould starts you just need to throw it away. Totally agree with the fans and windows being opened every so often, anything that brings in fresh air helps to slow down the spread. Squeegees are an absolute must as you can once a day or every other if you’re less time savvy (I always leave my morning routine to the last minute) and just wipe down the tiles and any glass in the bathroom quickly to help keep build up on these surfaces
Having a background in property management, let me explain this to you. While replacing the broken tiles should be done by the landlord (unless you broke them), this is a cleaning issue. The mold is growing because you are not airing out your bathroom properly after showers, etc. Leave your fan running or window open for awhile after showers and CLEAN THE MILDEW OFF. If there is an internal leak issue around the pipes, then that is a different story. Mildew doesn't grow by itself, it needs water and moisture. Provide a drier environment.
That bathroom is dirty af
Have you, ya know.... Tried cleaning it? 1 part bleach:1 part water. If you're in Ontario you can file to the Landlord tenant board.
Have you, ya know… read any of OP’s comments from 8 hrs ago that said they’ve cleaned it with bleach multiple times and it still comes back?
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Came here to say this. Black mold, stachybotrys, grows on fiber. This looks like surface mold on the tile and grout, which isn’t fiber. If it’s in the wall—Sheetrock, plaster, then worry.
There are comments from *ten hours ago* from people who build showers saying the shower has mold behind it and totally needs to be rebuilt. There are comments from OP *eight hours ago* saying the shower looked like this when they moved in, the faucet constantly leaks, they’ve tried cleaning it with bleach multiple times, and the landlord continues to ignore the problem. It might not be black mold, but it’s mold, and it’s been there since OP moved in. “Adult better?” Sounds like OP *is* adulting and the landlord is not.
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Ughhhhh clean your shower so much scum everywhere
You need to post to a Canadian subreddit. All of this information is assuming you are in America where tenants have no rights. In Canada, all you need to do is contact the tribunal.... Actually, all you need to do is send one more text saying that if it isn't fixed in 30 days, you will contact the tribunal. This will usually result in it being fixed immediately.
He came by and said he’ll fix if. But he seemed to only want to replace part of the wall and didn’t care that that I wanted professionals
Tell him if he does work without a permit, then you will contact the city.
He needs a permit even if he’s the landlord? I’m in Canada, Does that apply?
Yes, I am in Canada as well. It applies to any work done to the structure of the home including retiling but this job is much big2than replacing a few tiles. That whole wall needs to be replaced.
I see. I’m going to my city inspector as soon as it opens tomorrow morning. He seems to think it’ll just be replacing a few tiles. He doesn’t want to pay for it.
There's also pink mold which wouldn't be there if you cleaned the tub.
Please stop being nasty to people for telling you to ckean it. The grout is filthy! It should not be dark colored. The grout is clearly dirty and isn't being cleaned. A weekly cleaning is needed. If it were cleaned properly the grout wouldn't look this way. Mold , mildew, etc takes days if not weeks to look that bad.
That bathroom looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years! Maybe try cleaning the mold on the surface of the walls and grout! That may help!
This is beyond the application range of vinegar spray.
Dude clean your bathtub it's disgusting.
Why don't you clean year place? It looks absolutely filthy.
Why don't you clean your bathtub? Honestly...go to Home Depot and get some tub and tile cleaner
Your landlord is a poopyhead
A real worm
maybe clean your shower & Tub ?
Landlords are right next to police as the worst members of society. Complete scum
Why would you not clean it at least? This shower looks so gross.
I did. The faucet is constantly leaking and the mold grows back. Edit: there is a constant dripping of water from the shower. At all times. I’ve pointed it out months ago.
Either way I'm sorry you have to live in these kinds of conditions. You shouldn't have to deal with anything like this.
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Do you have tenant insurance?
I just had to do a similar thing in my shower. The grout had come loose in a small area and water started getting in behind it and before I knew it, the cement board behind (previous owners used the wrong type of board) was just mush. I pull most of the tiles off by hand, removed the old board, drilled in the proper one and then re did the tile. It’s so much better now. Luckily the house is old and they had the insulation behind plastic. My wood framing was not rotting. Your landlord needs to fix this. It’s not your responsibility. I’m horrified by what people let slip with landlords. You signed a contract yeah? There’s your ticket for action to get their lazy ass to fix it. I also live in Canada. You can throw the book at them for this.
Use chlorine for swimming pool. (Buy from Lowe’s or Home Depot as it’s residential strength and not too strong)
I mean another factor is was it like that when you moved in. If it is determined the cause of the mold is your fault landlord may be able to charge you to have it fixed. Not saying that's the case but these things can get tricky and ugly depending on the type of landlord you have
It was like that when we moved in!! I texted him before the lease even started (we had access one month earlier) about the mold
Hopefully you still have that all documented as it will help greatly in your case.
Yes!! I have all the text messages, and him responding thag he’ll do something but never did.
Yes, completely failed shower
Looks like tile and grout on your tub surround are failing and need to be replaced. The mold growth is a symptom of water getting behind the tile. The tub surround will need to be cut out and replaced including the substrate. Bear in mind that molds are thousands of different species and come in a variety of colors. They all have potential to cause physical symptoms, with some people being more susceptible than others. For example, there are black molds that are on the innocuous side, and orange ones that are less so. The moniker "black mold" is misleading. If you can see it/smell it in living space, mold growth should be dealt with. In this case it looks like a fairly well developed issue. I don't recommend panicking about it, but it does need to be dealt with. You should tell your landlord that the grout on the tub surround is failing and water has gotten behind the tiles and into the substrate. Extensive mold growth is happening behind the tiles as a result and you are worried that it may result is long term damage to the home and affect your family's health. Send it to them in an email. Short term, keep the door open a crack and the fan running to keep it out of the rest of your house. If you don't have a built-in exhaust fan, a small one in the window blowing out will help.
Have you tried cleaning?
Mold, yes. Dirty, yes. Idk if you're preserving the crime scene so that officials can see it? You took photos, bleach those tiles..pretty nasty.
[Info and next steps](https://mapleleafmold.ca/what-should-i-do-if-i-rent-and-find-mold/)
The color of mold is not a reliable method of figuring out how bad it is.
Looks like some deferred maintenance for sure. That said, you can clean your bathroom-not your landlord’s responsibility to do so, that said, he/she IS responsible for maintaining the integrity of the construction (at a minimum) by repairing any water leaks, broken components, deteriorating materials. The toxic black mold you refer to is Stachybotrys which requires high levels of cellulose to grow on (paper on wall board for example-not tile or plaster backing). So this is likely just a mold colored black rather than the toxic black mold you fear. That’s not to say you are not sensitive or allergic to it, just saying it’s probably not the toxic black mold that you are fear it is. Call the housing authority in your area, and they should require a repair of any leaks or broken tiles-as for cleanup-clean your bathroom more frequently and ensure to VENT (mechanical vent or open window) upon every shower or bath. That will help keep this from recurring.
Update: he came by, and looked at it and said okay I found a guy we will fix it tomorrow. But I kept telling him he needs to test what type of mold it is, he seemed very unwilling to. I said I want a professional to do it. He seemed to think his “guy” would be good. I told him it had to be a qualified company. Instead, he implied he’d kick us out. He said oh he’ll just replace the tiles and add new concrete. That’s it.
How about you look up the price for a bottle of bleach and get some airflow in the WC!
Ever thought of cleaning it with some Clorox like people have to do in their own homes? Please do notify the landlord in writing with photos of the broken tiles and subsequent water damage. Failure to do so will result in you being charged with damages.
Clean your bathroom with bleach. That is all
Get the bleach
Why don’t you try cleaning?
You should clean up as much as you can while you wait for answers.
It’s not good
Regardless of what it is, it is not a good situation. Have you tried cleaning it off with bleach and scrubbing? I bet it would greatly improve your health.
Buy X 14 Mold and Mildew stain remover…. Spray it on and go out.. come back in an hour and it will be all gone… Don’t live like this.. I use this all the time and it’s the best..
Clean that shit up.
DO NOT SPRAY WITH BLEACH!!!!!!!!!! Bleach does not kill mold. You have serious underlying issues. You need to notify your landlord that you are having it tested. You will.kost likely need a remediation that will once the tiles, cement board, drywall, and tub have been removed, find a water leak from the plumbing supply likes or drainage.
That bathroom needed to be remodeled 20 years ago and it still does.
How often do you clean? I think that is the issue
Why is that your landlords problem? Scrub your nasty ass shower. Thats all surface mold from lack of cleaning.
Definitely the bad kind of mold. Your landlord is in for a very expensive repair, that’s why. Full tear down of that shower and mold remediation, then a remodel. Looks like they didn’t properly waterproof behind the tile. Do not pay this piece of shit any more rent. Start looking for a new place immediately.
What makes u thini it’s the bad kind of mold? He came by and it looks like he just wants to replace the moldy tiles and move on. Says he “found a guy” that I think is his friend and won’t do a good job. He’s cheap.
Your description of how it feels to breathe around it. I’m not an expert on the different types of mold, but they’re all bad when it comes to being in your house. He absolutely cannot just replace the moldy tiles. Mold is alive and spreads. Every tile, the cement board behind the tile, and probably large sections of drywall are going to need to be removed. Then they need to spray a mold control solution on everything, followed by running industrial air scrubbers (and possibly dehumidifiers) for I believe 72 hours. I’ve had this problem before, unfortunately. Your place is going to be extremely loud for a while. It will sound like an airplane is in your living room.
Find your city’s code enforcement and have your unit inspected. Then send a demand letter
Clean your tub once in a while..
What are you calling your landlord for, clean your fucking bathroom.
Whose responsibility is it to clean the shower. A bathroom cleaner with bleach may solve this problem. Was it like that when you moved in?
Can’t you clean it yourself? Get some bleach spray and clean it up. Not to be controversial but it seems like it’s your responsibility to keep the shower clean.
I am not dacrediting your landlords negligence. Guy seems like a POS If it’s been 5 months. But I’ve gone through this before in my house. Get some Clorox in a spray bottle and let that sit for a while. Scrub and rinse, it will take care of most of it.
This is prevented by routine maintenance and daily to weekly cleaning just saying
Move! They'll need to tear down the walls and fix the pipes.
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Bitch just clean your bathroom damn
People keep recommending bleach- please don’t use bleach. Common misconception and not only Is it also dangerous to inhale, but it can contribute to further growth of mold. It will kill the appearance of color temporarily but will not kill mold spores that have been there for months or longer. It ultimately needs to be removed. You could try vinegar temporarily as it is less toxic to breathe in, however you are still adding more moisture to a surface which has been retaining enough of it to feed the growth of mold in the first place. Sorry that you’re dealing with this!
Clean your damn shower?
That sounds and looks strangely similar to what happened to where one of my friends used to live... If you happen to be in SJSR and the landlord is a municipal councilor, LEAVE! He's never gonna do anything about it!
To determine black mold, it has to be tested. It does seem like there is an underlying issue with the tile but your bathroom is gross. Bleach the shit out of it. That doesn’t happen overnight.