How Should You Handle Mold on the Exterior of a Property?
Mold is a troublesome fungus that comes in a variety of appearances (black, white, brown, green, orange) and reproduces via the emission of spores into the air. While small amounts of mold on a property are normal and don’t typically pose significant health risks, it’s important to treat mold at any level to limit exposure and prevent health hazards.
When most people think of mold, they imagine finding it in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or basements, but mold can also be found on the exterior of a property. On the outside of a house or apartment, there are a few places that mold grows:
1. Gutters
2. Wooden structures like decks, porches, or fences
3. Outdoor furniture
4. The siding of a house or apartment
What causes mold to grow on the outside of a property?
The causes of exterior mold are similar to interior mold in that mold thrives in places with poor ventilation, excess moisture, and low light-exposure. These conditions are often more prevalent outside, where properties are exposed to different weather conditions.
Some causes of exterior mold include:
1. Leakage or seepage in the foundation or walls of a property
2. Problems with gutter drainage
3. Significant foliage that may block sunlight from reaching part of a property
4. Excessive moisture buildup on outdoor furniture
5. High levels of humidity
It’s important to address outdoor mold as early as possible as mold can spread quickly, has the potential to move inside a property, and can be indicative of underlying problems with ventilation or plumbing.
How do you get rid of exterior mold?
Small amounts of mold can often be addressed by tenants themselves with the right materials. For minor mold remediation, you can typically use a cleaning solution with a sponge, rag, or scrubber. It’s important to take proper safety precautions by wearing gloves, goggles, and an N-95 respirator mask to limit mold exposure, and disinfect any contaminated cleaning supplies.
Do you need to call an expert to clean outdoor mold?
While lower volumes of mold can sometimes be dealt with on your own, it’s best to leave mold remediation to mold-removal professionals. Mold can point to hazardous underlying problems and can be more extensive than it might initially appear. It is to be expected on certain surfaces, especially outside, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Mold removal falls under the responsibility of landlords according to the Implied Warrant of Habitability, a California Civil Code which details that landlords are responsible for ensuring that properties facilitate sufficient living conditions and holds landlords accountable in cases where living circumstances are found to be substandard. If landlords do not complete mold abatement within a designated timeframe, tenants can report these violations to the Los Angeles County Department of Health and are entitled to file a legal claim against their landlord.
How do you prevent mold from growing on the outside of a property?
While it’s hard to prevent mold from occurring, especially outdoors, there are a few steps you can take to try and minimize the risk of mold developing on the exterior of a property:
1. Make sure that any sprinklers don’t face the siding of a property
2. Clean your gutters often and ensure that there are no blockages
3. Use mold-resistant paint or siding
4. Check for leaks in hoses and faucets
5. Clean the siding of the property often
6. Clean and maintain outdoor furniture
We are here to help.
Mold can be tough to deal with and hard to prevent, but tenants are entitled to a mold-free household, be it internally or externally. Please don’t hesitate to reach out through this intake link if you need advice or legal assistance, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.