All Forum Posts by: Jack Ni

I agree with @Ned J. one month in and already starting to complain! We wouldn't do the 50/50, I would simply tell them that they have to pay for the inspection and if it comes back with dangerous levels of bad mold. Then and only then will I pay for the testing and the cost to clean it up. Plus tell them that you will provide them with an inspector for them to call and make the arrangement as needed. Otherwise they can provide their 30 day notice and we'll all be happy.

Dear tenant. My last tenants lived there for 5 years without a problem. If you’re creating mold already in 1 month I don’t think I want you living there. Please move out. Thank you. 

Maybe they have a bette sense of smell and smell a toilet smell or a humid smell. Or they regret their decision to rent and want a way out. Let them go. 

Worst case you send over the form to be signed that says you;ve found an inspector, he costs $xxx. If he finds mold you’ll pay for e inspection and the repair (obviously) but if he doesn’t find health damaging mold it will be added to their next month’s bill. 

Quote from @Jack Ni:

Hi, got a new tenant move in 1 month ago. They said they have been sick since they moved in and want to do a mold inspection.

Last family live there for 5 years with kids and never had any problem like that.

I ask if he smell any mold or any visible mold, he said he smell some

I been inside the house for 1 week straight cleaning the house 2 months ago, and I don’t smell mold or see any sign of mold at all.

My proposal was if I call out a mold inspection guy to come out, and they find nothing, we would split the cost of inspection 50/50. If they found mold, I would pay 100% of the cost of the inspection and fix.

I live in Arkansas.

If you were in this situation how would you deal with this?

Last time a lady wanted me to do mold inspection on my rental too but found nothing. I’m out $500 for nothing. Moldy smell was coming from clogged bathroom sink (I figure that out myself)

Wow, I have had very similar experiences with tenants, and ultimately they were slow to pay and then would skip out on payment.  All because of the mold problems and then they threated to sue!  Anyway, I do agree with you to split the cost with the tenant if no mold and then cover 100% if a positive test comes back and of course to mediate it.  Good luck with this one but I fear they will be a lasting problem.

Oh boy......new tenant in one month and already playing the " I feel sick and its mold" card....

You have to do the inspection or it will only escalate the claim. You have no choice.

But a you stated there has to be a contingency for who is responsible for the cost based on the results. BUT also have specifics about the threshold of what "mold" means. Mold is ubiquitous in the environment and you and I are exposed to it EVERY DAY...90% of home will have some level of superficial mold in them (surface stuff around windows or doors, bathroom surfaces etc) , but 99.9% of it is totally benign. So be careful on what threshold needs to be reached to consider it a real problem. 

I would also highly recommend the "happy clause" be discussed and in writing...... "if you feel concerned or unsafe in my unit, I will gladly let you out of the lease with no penalty within the next 30 days... please let me know what you want to do".