Black mold and chinchillas?

[starrynight0621]

I am moving into an apartment in a week. When I was inspecting it today, I noticed some black mold on the wall of the bedroom. It looked like black mold that someone painted over.

Now I am worried about my chins and how it might affect them. I am contacting my landlord to fix the issue, but I heard they do a half-a$$ job. If there is still mold that I just can't see behind the drywall, I am afraid it will hurt my chins. I have two males, both less than 6 months old.

Does black mold hurt chins? What should I do?

 

[tunes]

Black mold hurts everybody, including you. I would definitely move the chins out of range of that mold and I would seal the room with Binz or some other type of sealant/primer that will cover black mold, then you paint over it.

 

[starleomach]

Black mold is very bad

 

[Spoof]

It's nasty stuff, if it's already there it's in the carpet, ducting system, etc. Impossible to get rid of, you can cover it up but it won't stay gone. Been there and rented that.

Personally, I'd just look for a new place or ask to change apartments. It's not worth the bizarre range of health issues it causes.

 

[menagerie]

No living thing should be living in an apartment with black mold. I know someone that lost most of his possessions, his chins and mice died and almost lost his own life because of black mold in his condo. It's not worth the risk.

 

[starrynight0621]

How would I get out of my lease then?

 

[ChinnyMom]

the fact that there is black mold in the apartment and it is a health hazard is enough legal reason to break your lease. at least here it is. tell your landlord that you will not risk your health or the health of your pets by living there. if they aren't agreeable, contact your local health authority or housing standards office.

 

[ticklechin]

In California the landlord has a duty of habitability, the unit must be fit to be habitated or the tenant can break the lease.

 

[Spoof]

It depends on what state you are in but you can google tenant laws for your area and it will tell you where to go. I'd talk to the landlord first thing and see if they have any other places to rent first and try not to burn any bridges, particularly if you're renting for college in a small area.

 

[tunes]

Tara - You're basically saying he has to tear the entire apartment building down because you can never get rid of black mold and that's not true. Insurance companies and the health department recommend what I said above. I know, because I checked. It should absolutely be brought to the attention of the apartment owner, as well as the local health department, to ensure that it is taken care of, but according to what I learned, as long as it isn't a major mold (ceiling, floor, wall, every room), it can be taken care of.

 

[Annieo]

I would highly recommend reading up on mold before moving into a place that you think has it. There is a risk to yourself and pets.

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

 

[AZChins]

I've seen commercials on TV about mold dogs that they bring in and sniff out the spots that need to be removed.

I'd talk to the landlord about it and have them bring in someone to make repairs before you move in. If I'm not mistaken, I think that their insurance should cover this...and if it doesn't, they really should pay to get it fixed.

From what I understand the mold is very toxic and it can cause some very severe health issues. It's best to take care of it before you move in.