Responding to Indoor Mold Concerns: A Resource for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Rental and multi-unit housing Rental and multi-unit housing is a common source of mold complaints, raising questions about repair responsibilities and compliance by landlords or tenants. EPH professionals typically provide educational resources to residents and refer them to renter’s rights information, applicable regulations, and enforcement agencies such as a local housing authority. Barriers to addressing indoor mold include remediation costs, unclear responsibility, delayed recognition or reporting, and gaps in regulation or enforcement. In multi-unit housing, remediation can be further complicated by recurring moisture in neighboring units, shared ventilation, and the stack effect, in which temperature differences cause air to rise and fall, moving vertically through a building. Responsibility for cleanup in rental properties generally depends on the cause. Landlords are usually liable for indoor mold resulting from structural issues, such as roof or plumbing leaks, while tenants might be responsible if mold results from their negligence, such as unaddressed water spills.
Table 3. Common EPH Professional Provision of Services to Address Indoor Mold
ACTIVITY
PROVIDED
NOT PROVIDED
• Owner-occupied home assessments • Structural building evaluations • Routine mold testing or sampling
ASSESSMENT
• Assessment guidance for homeowners • Assessment of regulated or public facilities • Regulatory enforcement where applicable
• Direct involvement in remediation or cleanup actions • Clinical advice or diagnosis • Legal advice • Mediate tenant and landlord disputes • Endorse or recommend specific contractors, remediation companies, or products • Certify buildings or homes as mold-free
CONSULTATION • Respond to complaints and inquiries • Suggest remediation and cleanup actions • Refer to external agencies for services and resources
COMMUNICATION • Report on assessment results
• Educate and increase awareness, especially during emergency response • Develop and disseminate informational resources (e.g., fact sheets, websites, social media posts, etc.)
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