There are no laws in place for the remediation of Toxic Black mold in AZ so we are reaching out to be the first ones to make the step in raising awareness for laws to be placed on Landlords renting known uninhabitable Toxic homes. This home had a deadly finding of toxic black mold 2/12/2015 where the property management company asked us to immediately leave the property where we relocated to a hotel for 3 weeks. The management company brought in 2 companies for remediation. Although the water damage under sink was noted on move in paperwork August of 2014. At the time Property manager stated not to worry we would not be charged upon move out. Please note the picture attached is after remediation and only one of many cabinets still showing the mold.
We did report this to the City of Gilbert code compliance and air quality. When the remediation was in process the company had machines blowing the tented containment area out of the attic onto neighboring homes. The cities response was report to AZ Slumlords as there are no laws in place for the remediation of Toxic Black Mold. We reported to AZ Department Health and they referred me to step out and raise awareness for laws to be placed.
After the work was complete a second test was performed and the results show it is worse, now mycotoxins have been released in the March 9th report. Owner of ROC licensed mold remediation company states they did not know what they were doing and this house is polluted with Toxic Mold. Our mattresses and all wood fabric furniture are now contaminated with mycotoxins. Also after remediation there are still visible signs of mold in kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets reported immediately to property manager. The State of AZ/AZ Department of Health licensed mold company SavOn, Ivan Money owner, that processed tap life and air quality test has deemed house uninhabitable, We as Tenants still occupying because they did not return our deposit as agreed and still demanding March rent after they agreed to pro-rate for February and apply to March. Only to change the verbal agreement and serve us with eviction 03/12/2015 after we noted the visible mold and retest was done.. We are leaving this home and the management company has no plan of any further remediation. As they have a report that is dated 03/02/2014 stating the house is cleared. Although I have dated pictures of 03/02/2015 showing the tents still up in kitchen and machines running. I have texted date stamp and pictures to property manager on 03/02/2015.
Which leaves the next renter victim of the Landlord technicalities of no laws being established. This is a rental scam. We have been paying $1,517.00 a month for a 5b 3b home in Gilbert, AZ since 07/2014 that according to the professionals been uninhabitable for some time.
To note the entire back patio roof, visible signs of mold, wood wet falling and breaking.
The Toxic Black Mold has been discovered and documented in the last 6 weeks but increasingly over the last 7 months my family has suffered from long term high levels of mold exposure including, rhinitis, neurological symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, clogged ears, dizziness, anomalies on lungs, Asthma, cyst in brain. . Our family service dog has had two visits to the emergency vet for toxic exposure and has double eye infection which required medicine. We are all healthy individuals. The service animal is now only 9 months old. My 9 year old daughter who has never had allergy or health problems has diagnosed from 2 doctors Headaches to be followed up with neurologist and Rhinitis.
We have retained a lawyer in the matter to deal with the civil suit. But my concerns are they have succeed on a technicality to have us removed from property without fixing properly. After the remediation the company painted with "high cover up" paint and a BioHazard company came to clean carpets and air ducts.
The second test was done after this and still shows on air quality, mycotoxins released and 7 more molds in addition to the 230,000+ PeniclliumApersgillius.
02/12/2015 had a reading of 2.1 Million Penicillium Aspergillus. No that is not a typo that is 2.1 million a deadly reading. Literally when in the kitchen it feels like fumes of some kind head spinning, uncomfortable balance.
I want to prevent another family experiencing the pain we have. They evicted us in retaliation to the second test showing worse conditions. When in court they plead we were rent striking when in fact they agreed to pro-rated rent from Feb and changed their mind after our report of visible mold and second test was complete. We of course would not continue to stay here as it is hazardous to our health but in that same breath will not pay them additional monies for rent when our deposit was not returned and February rent was not pro rated and applied as agreed. A reference letter was written stating we were being released from our lease and will be issued our full refundable deposit. They have determined the deposit will now be held for March rent following the decision made in the court room base on "no rent strike" the judge said "no matter what in any terms" "Its a civil matter".
We are leaving here, but with no laws in place. The next renters are already victims of the unknown Toxic Black Mold and the company is planning to re rent as is without further remediation. I have learned there are no laws in place for this to be reported to warn others or done in the proper way to remove and deem house habitable.