Tenant threat re: mold after "safe" levels found on air test

[Alan Bosca]

Hi -

Had a leak in apt. Notified HOA as it was coming from the decks they maintain & pay for. They got some quotes to fix. Interior had water damage.

While I'm waiting on the Board to move forward, tenant contacted me complaining of mold issue - saying he wants a mold test & that he'll pay for it if negative.  Of course, there is mold everywhere, so no such thing as negative, but I have an air test done & the results come back extremely low - lower than the average outside levels for that region.

I tell him good news, safe levels, he says I'm getting sick and it doesn't matter what the test says, I want it remediated ($3k job).  Meanwhile, the Board is dragging its feet on moving forward to fix the deck and the interior damage.

So the question is how to deal with a difficult, cranky tenant and play middleman with the Board still deciding what to do. It's going on about 3 weeks now & I really need to settle the matter, but I don't want to be pushed into doing a full remediation by the tenant if not necessary and the HOA won't cover it.

As we all know, there's the legal side of what's required and practical side of how to calm a squeaky wheel.. I am getting a good rent, so I don't want to push the tenant out the door either, although that's an option.

Any input appreciated!