How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Rental Home

Preventing mold growth is essential when renting a house or apartment, as it can have detrimental effects on your health. Mold spores are known to elicit allergens that can cause respiratory problems and typically allergy symptoms like sore throats, rashes, etc. Not to mention the impact mold has on a property; it can destroy walls and ceilings and be the reason you don’t get your safety deposit back from the property management team. 

What Is Mold and What Causes It?

Simply put, mold is a type of fungi that grows in dark, moist places. Too much moisture or humidity in the air causes water vapor to condense on the walls, ceilings, or windows, creating the perfect conditions for mold growth. 

Most cases of mold growth can be attributed to one or more of the following problems: 

• A lack of ventilation inside the property
• Gaps in window frames that allow rain to seep through
• Leaking pipes in the walls or ceiling
• Moisture created by drying clothes inside when there’s no dryer or outdoor clothesline
• No windows in the bathroom area

There are three categories of mold, and IQAir differentiates them as such: 

• Allergenic mold: Allergenic mold is the least likely to cause severe illness. However, it can trigger allergic reactions like sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes. Allergenic mold is also the most commonly found mold in homes.
• Pathogenic mold: This type poses a greater risk, potentially causing infections, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.
• Toxigenic mold: The most severe but least common type, toxigenic mold produces toxic spores that can harm humans and animals upon exposure.

Signs of Mold Infestation

Preventing mold growth is more challenging when mold spores already exist. You should check for signs of mold before signing a lease and moving into a rental property. This ensures the property manager can clean the home so you don’t inherit a mold issue from the beginning. 

Constant checks throughout your stay are also critical to spot early warning signs of mold growth. Mold is much easier to clean and remove when it first appears than when it’s had months or years to settle in. Keeping this in mind, here are the main signs of mold to look for: 

Visual cues

Check the walls, ceilings, and window fittings for dark/brown spots or smears. This is a key sign of mold growth and is easy to spot. If you see these visual cues, try to wipe away the mold with a damp cloth. It will come away easily if the mold is new, but old mold may require bleach or different treatments to remove it. If you’ve not moved in yet, it’s technically the property manager’s responsibility to do this and clean away the mold. 

Musty odors

Do you smell a mustiness in the property but can’t quite figure out where it’s coming from? Your rental property could have mold hidden beneath layers of paint or in places you can’t see. If that’s the case, your best plan of action is to get a mold removal service to assess the space and locate the mold. You may need to call your property manager and ask them to do this. 

Health symptoms

If you keep sneezing or waking up with a stuffy nose and scratchy throat, your home might have a mold infestation. You’ll know if this is true if you can locate visible signs. If you can’t see mold but suspect it may be present, follow the steps above and get mold removal specialists to find and deal with it. 

Tenant Responsibilities

Not owning the property you live in doesn’t mean you’re free of all responsibilities. It’s your job, as a tenant, to keep track of things around the home and notify your property manager when something goes wrong. If you spot signs of mold growth, you should speak to your property manager immediately and ask them to do something about it, especially if you flagged the mold issue before moving in.

Aside from this, your other primary mold-growth-related responsibilities include: 

Reporting maintenance issues

If you see pipes leaking or problems with extraction fans around the property, you should immediately report them to your property manager. This shows you’ve taken steps to inform them of the issue, so any mold growth that comes after this is not your fault.

Adhere to responsible use of heating, cooling, and appliances

Mold growth is commonly caused by different appliances around the home. If you’re creating steam through the shower or stove, you must have any extraction fans turned on to reduce condensation as much as possible. It’s also your responsibility to open windows regularly, allowing airflow around the property and preventing humidity. 

Addressing issues and proving you’re preventing mold growth is essential to keep your security deposit. Failing to do so can lead to unreasonable damage or repairs, which is a common way people lose their security deposits.

Tips to Prevent Mold Growth

It’s not as difficult as it seems to prevent mold growth. Renters can stop mold from forming by following these simple tips: 

Clean your home regularly

Get into the habit of cleaning your home as often as possible. Wipe down wet surfaces daily and give your home a more thorough clean every week/two weeks. We also recommend consistently inspecting your home for visual signs of mold, as it’s very easy to wipe it away if it hasn’t settled.

Improve ventilation and deter humidity

Open the windows in your home or use an HVAC system (if your property has one) to control the humidity levels and avoid excessive moisture in the air. It’s also worth investing in a dehumidifier. Turn this on when drying clothes to extract moisture from the air; it proves to your property manager you’ve gone out of your way to keep the humidity levels down.

Address any water intrusion promptly

Look for signs of water intrusion throughout your property and take preventative measures to stop it from happening. These initiatives could be as simple as closing your windows when it’s raining so water doesn’t enter the home. If you notice leaky pipes, call your property manager, and they will arrange for a plumber to come out. 

Find a Rental Home in Southern Idaho

In summary, mold growth is common and can permanently damage property, meaning you may lose your security deposit. 

If you’re looking for properties to rent in Southern Idaho, contact Rooftop Rentals today. We are happy to provide you with information regarding our latest offerings. We have properties to suit individuals, couples, or families of all sizes. Allow us to help you find the rental home that’s perfect for you.