Water damage - experts please advice!

landlord refuses to cut a wet wall due to leak from neighbors and to follow water damage specialist advise, only to dry the carpet and nothing else.
device detecting moist has showed at least 50% moist and another showed red light. (moist up to 10 inch above floor, of course the floor to floor carpet and padding is also wet)
what are our options?
 
Probably not much right now...I mean if you want to hire an attorney to write a nasty letter for you..it may work.

I would say just document everything.
 
If leak is from neighbors plumbing then you should try to find out if neighbor has submitted insurance claim.  You should be able to include your remediation costs as part of neighbor's insurance claim.  The insurance company would be able to refer a restoration company to do the work.  You should get your landlord's approval but I'm guessing if there is no out of pocket to your landlord there may not be any pushback.
 
aquabliss said:

Not paying rent takes one down a somewhat dangerous road...landlord has the right to remediate. 

Despite all the hysteria...mold is not a serious threat to health unless you are immuno-compromised.
 
To the OP, I would send a letter certified mail to your landlord regarding your moisture readings and request for remediation to be done to prevent mold from developing.  This will be your smoking gun should you need to take legal action down the road.  Only an ignorant landlord would ignore this request as the liability and cost that the landlord could face down the road should mold actually develop will be far greater than the minimal cost of cutting a hole and running a dehumidifier for a few days.  Mold is the new asbestos.
 
irvine buyer said:
To the OP, I would send a letter certified mail to your landlord regarding your moisture readings and request for remediation to be done to prevent mold from developing.  This will be your smoking gun should you need to take legal action down the road.  Only an ignorant landlord would ignore this request as the liability and cost that the landlord could face down the road should mold actually develop will be far greater than the minimal cost of cutting a hole and running a dehumidifier for a few days.  Mold is the new asbestos.

I agree with most of that post.  Mold is definitely not the new asbestos.  Mold was a big issue about 5-7 years ago but the science pretty much shows that mold is not really that dangerous.
https://www.ocregister.com/2016/09/18/debunking-some-toxic-mold-myths/
 
I would not want to broadbrush that mold is not that dangerous.  Every property management company I've dealt with treats it seriously.  While many people don't have negative reactions to most kinds of household molds, mold does cause some people with respiratory sensitivity or other ailments to have adverse reactions.  As a landlord, unless you know your tenant's medical situation, it is always prudent to take action promptly.

About 10 years ago, we had a property in Chino where the tenant sued the ownership due to health issues resulting from mold in their unit.  Turns out there was mold forming on the wall behind their bed due to the close proximity of the headboard to the wall.  During winter months, the weather can get down into the 30's and this was causing the inside of the wall to sweat as the interior of the unit was kept at a much higher temperature.  When the onsite manager learnt of the problem, she immediately had the onsite maintenance crew help move the tenant into another vacant unit.  With larger properties, all maintenance requests are documented and there was no evidence that the tenant had brought this issue up in the past.  Due to the manager's proactive efforts, the tenant did not win any monetary award.



 
irvine buyer said:
I would not want to broadbrush that mold is not that dangerous.  Every property management company I've dealt with treats it seriously.  While many people don't have negative reactions to most kinds of household molds, mold does cause some people with respiratory sensitivity or other ailments to have adverse reactions.  As a landlord, unless you know your tenant's medical situation, it is always prudent to take action promptly.

About 10 years ago, we had a property in Chino where the tenant sued the ownership due to health issues resulting from mold in their unit.  Turns out there was mold forming on the wall behind their bed due to the close proximity of the headboard to the wall.  During winter months, the weather can get down into the 30's and this was causing the inside of the wall to sweat as the interior of the unit was kept at a much higher temperature.  When the onsite manager learnt of the problem, she immediately had the onsite maintenance crew help move the tenant into another vacant unit.  With larger properties, all maintenance requests are documented and there was no evidence that the tenant had brought this issue up in the past.  Due to the manager's proactive efforts, the tenant did not win any monetary award.

They take it seriously because people freak out about it...which leads to protracted lawsuits and defense fees.  Insurers used to roll over on it...now they fight it hard.

Yes...10 years ago..mold was a thing.  Now it's a throwaway allegation in a habitability case.
 
Irvinecommuter said:
irvine buyer said:
I would not want to broadbrush that mold is not that dangerous.  Every property management company I've dealt with treats it seriously.  While many people don't have negative reactions to most kinds of household molds, mold does cause some people with respiratory sensitivity or other ailments to have adverse reactions.  As a landlord, unless you know your tenant's medical situation, it is always prudent to take action promptly.

About 10 years ago, we had a property in Chino where the tenant sued the ownership due to health issues resulting from mold in their unit.  Turns out there was mold forming on the wall behind their bed due to the close proximity of the headboard to the wall.  During winter months, the weather can get down into the 30's and this was causing the inside of the wall to sweat as the interior of the unit was kept at a much higher temperature.  When the onsite manager learnt of the problem, she immediately had the onsite maintenance crew help move the tenant into another vacant unit.  With larger properties, all maintenance requests are documented and there was no evidence that the tenant had brought this issue up in the past.  Due to the manager's proactive efforts, the tenant did not win any monetary award.

They take it seriously because people freak out about it...which leads to protracted lawsuits and defense fees.  Insurers used to roll over on it...now they fight it hard.

Yes...10 years ago..mold was a thing.  Now it's a throwaway allegation in a habitability case.

Unless you have a sensitivity towards mold, which is very rare, stressing about mold is more damaging to your health than mold. 

If mold was as deadly, Florida, Houston, and Taiwan would be depopulated.
 
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