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Orange County Toxic Mold Exposure Attorney

When you rent a home or apartment, you make the natural assumption that it is a safe, habitable place for you and your family to live. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Although California landlords are duty-bound to only rent out properties that are safe to inhabit, units with mold problems or that develop mold problems slip through the cracks, and tenants can become ill as a result. Our toxic mold exposure attorney and the Law Offices of John B. Richards have a proven track record of fighting for the rights of tenants exposed to mold by holding landlords accountable for their negligence and/or inaction.

Is Mold Affecting Your Health?

Exposure to mold is a known detriment to human health. Mold is very common, usually resulting from leaking roofs, improperly installed tubs and showers, and damp crawlspaces. The illnesses caused (or exacerbated) by mold include allergies, asthma, and other problems with the lungs and respiratory system as well as skin issues. Unfortunately, California ranks first among all U.S. states when it comes to the worst places to live if you have a mold allergy. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of homes in the United States have problems with mold. In fact, mold is so widespread that Americans spend a collective $3.7 billion each year dealing with allergic rhinitis due to indoor mold and dampness.

Mold exposure symptoms include coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, itchy or red eyes, sore throat, and skin rashes. Recurring sinusitis and rhinitis are additional signs of exposure to mold.

Tenants Rights Under the Law

The state of California looks unfavorably on landlords who fail to maintain their properties in a safe, healthy manner, which is required by the implied warranty of habitability between the landlord and tenant. Landlords are tasked by law with maintaining their units in a way that tenants are not made sick by living in them. When mold is discovered in a rental unit, landlords have 30 days to correct the problem through mold remediation. If this doesn’t happen, recourse for tenants includes:

  • The ability to leave the property until the mold is removed.
  • Reporting the landlord’s warranty of habitability violation to appropriate local and state agencies.
  • Refusing to pay rent until the problem is fixed.
  • Filing a claim against the landlord for damages.

Although the courts usually penalize landlords who fail to take care of their properties’ mold issues, the courts also expect tenants to mitigate any damage resulting from mold. For example, if you notice that there’s a leak in your roof, but you don’t report it to the landlord, and mold results because of it, then you may be unable to collect damages that result from the leak.

Legal Representation for Tenants Exposed to Mold

Mold can make tenants and their families sick, sometimes seriously so. At the Law Offices of John B. Richards, our Orange County toxic mold exposure attorney has a long history of holding landlords liable for injuries and losses sustained by their tenants. Reach out to us for a free evaluation of your case by clicking here or calling 805-683-2736.

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