Single Mom Out Thousands After Renting a Salon With Hidden Mold

When renting a new home or office space, you might not immediately think about hidden mold or even getting the building tested for mold or other potential environmental health hazards. But skipping this step could end up costing you much more than you bargained for in the long run. That’s exactly what happened to one single mother in Kansas City, Missouri who was looking to expand her salon business to a bigger location.

Why You Should Test for Mold, Even before Renting

Last October, Mary Zemenye found what looked to be the perfect rental building for her expanding salon. During her initial walk-through, the space looked like it would work well, so she put a $2,000 deposit down, plus paid the first few months’ worth of rent.

Once she got the key and opened up the door to start planning her new salon, however, Zemenye quickly discovered that there was mold covering most of the walls. There had been furniture covering up the mold during her walk-through, so she didn’t notice the glaring problem until the room was cleared out.

The owner of the building has since put the building up for sale and has been evading Zemenye’s attempts to serve him court papers to get her deposit and rent money back, leaving her out of thousands of dollars.

Why Painting over Mold Is Not a Good Solution

The only solution that this woman’s new landlord gave her regarding the extensive mold problem in the building was to simply paint over it. This, however, is never a good idea, nor is it a safe or effective solution. Mold is more than just a cosmetic concern on your walls or floors. It can also have a serious effect on your health. Even well-known celebrities have publically battled health problems caused by mold.

According to the CDC, the health effects of mold include:

• Chronic lung diseases such as obstructive lung disease
• Serious lung infections
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Asthma symptoms
• Coughing and wheezing

Moreover, children who are exposed to mold could develop serious chronic illnesses later in life, due to their developing lung tissue. Therefore, if you suspect or know that your home or business, whether you own or rent it, is affected by mold, it’s crucial that you have the problem remediated as soon as possible to avoid developing serious health problems.

Where to Start with Hidden Mold

Even if you can visibly see that there is mold in your home or business, it’s still a good idea to have a certified professional test for mold. There are so many different types of mold, and knowing exactly which one you’re dealing with can be a huge help if you or a family member ends up getting sick. Additionally, professional mold testing could discover mold in other areas of your home or office that you might not be able to see.

If you think you need to hire an Inspector to keep you and your family or even your clients safe from hidden mold exposure but aren’t sure where to start, feel free to contact Bioterra Solutions online or give us a call at (973) 494-3762.