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Damaged and discolored tile in shower - is landlord required to test for mold before proceeding with renovations?

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sunvsmoon

New member
What is the name of your state? California

A tile came off in my shower and it was completely discolored/brown/black. I notified my landlord via email with pictures immediately. They sent a plumber out two days later who said the renovations would take a few weeks. They told me to book a hotel and they'd pay me back. No repayment yet, have sent all receipts via email. I had my own mold inspection done before anything was done in the shower and it came back positive/very high levels (not black mold, but still mold). I did this because I've had major health issues come up in the past 6 months. My landlord is not aware of this mold inspection or its results. I mentioned my concern about mold and my health when the landlord first came over to look at the situation. My landlord is now telling me the renovations will take a day and I'll be back in. He only mentioned asbestos testing came back clear, nothing else. Clearly, no mold testing has been done because the containment and renovations procedure would not take a day. How do I proceed? Do I ask if a mold test was done and see how they reply? Am I required to tell them I obtained my own mold test which came back very high? What if they don't pay me back for the hotel (which I've already asked them about twice and the question has been ignored - not a great sign)? What are my rights here and what should I do and not do? Thanks for any guidance!
 


justalayman

Senior Member
a Landlord in California is not legally required to test for mold


If you are aware of a condition you believe the landlord should be made aware of, why wouldn’t you tell him? He can’t fix something unless he knows it’s broken.
 

HRZ

Senior Member
IF one tile fell off..it's possible that many tiles are wet and backer soaked ....ha rd to divine from afar ...not all mold is hazardous ...and Clorox often does a great job ...many a shower backer board is darn tough stuff ...and one tile falling off is I inconclusive as to overall status
.
 

sunvsmoon

New member
a Landlord in California is not legally required to test for mold


If you are aware of a condition you believe the landlord should be made aware of, why wouldn’t you tell him? He can’t fix something unless he knows it’s broken.
I let him know that there is mold back there and asked about the remediation being done to fix it.
 

sunvsmoon

New member
IF one tile fell off..it's possible that many tiles are wet and backer soaked ....ha rd to divine from afar ...not all mold is hazardous ...and Clorox often does a great job ...many a shower backer board is darn tough stuff ...and one tile falling off is I inconclusive as to overall status
.
Both the plumber and mold remediation company said the wall that extends out from the tile is completely saturated. The mold company also took a sample right from the back of the tile that fell off as well as an air quality sample directly next to the opening of the shower and both came back as very high.
 

Gail in Georgia

Senior Member
So called mold companies don't make the big bucks telling folks the idea of mold on a tile isn't a problem. They make the big bucks scaring folks that simple mildew will cause folks to keel over and that all mold is "deadly" to humans.

Gail
 

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