Who's to Blame for the Mold in Your Apartment?

It's been hot and rainy for weeks now, and if you're not careful mold could start forming inside your dwelling.

Anywhere there is excessive moisture (leaky pipes, faulty vents, around windows, etc.), mold has the potential to form. And, if you own a home, mold is likely your problem with no one else to blame.

But, what if you live in an apartment, or rent a home, who's fault is it then? Does the landlord have to clean it up?

Bad news renters: There is no federal or Georgia law establishing permissible levels of mold indoors. There may be local laws, but state environmental officials say these codes generally do not contain or enforce mold standards.

So, as a renter it becomes vital to read your lease, and know your general rights as a tenant. When you lease a home, landlords normally provide tenants with a mold addendum.

It goes into how to avoid mold, what to do if you see mold, who to report it to, etc. Sometimes landlords are responsive, and sometimes they're not.

In a recent CBS Atlanta News report, the The Retreat at Arc Way in Norcross was highlighted as being one such location with mold problems.

Tenants said their apartments flood, they scrub them with bleach, and the pesky mold still comes back. At this point, they just don't know what to do.

"It's so bold that it just smells like an unfinished basement in here," one tenant told CBS Atlanta News.

Although mold spores are naturally occurring in the environment, "all molds have the potential to cause health effects," according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you find yourself in a particularly moldy situation, here are a few helpful resources:

Law:

• Legal Aid -- Georgia's guide to free legal information and legal services, including answers to whether landlords are responsible for repairs.
• Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook -- This guide is published by the Georgia Department of Public Affairs.
• National Conference of State Legislatures -- Search for environmental laws in yours, or surrounding states.

• UGA Cooperative Extension -- Read what University of Georgia experts have to say about mold.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- See this list of frequently asked questions about mold.
• Environmental Protection Agency -- See this information on how mold affects your home: Where does it come from, how to clean it and more. Click here for the EPA's general website on mold.
  

• Find professional cleaning services by searching the American Council for Accredited Certification