Sydney residents struggling with high humidity and rising rates of mould outbreaks following an unseasonably damp start to winter are now faced with a new conundrum – who should pay for mould damage in rentals?
Reports of complaints about mould concerns in rental properties have surged in the last few months, with NSW Fair Trading showing that more than half of the 359 tenancy complaints and 1992 written enquiries in the first three months of the year were related to maintenance. The majority of complaints are related to severe water damage and mould problems.
A number of tenants also reported to Fair Trading that properties were being listed for rent without being adequately cleaned first. Landlords in NSW are responsible for providing a safe environment for tenants.
One mould remediation specialist said he was receiving hundreds of calls every week, with many enquiries from renters who had been told by their property managers that mould problems were ‘their fault’.
“Rentals are horrendous,” he said. “I have had people ring me in tears.
“People ring me saying, ‘I’m sick, the kids are sick, the agents tell me it’s all my fault’.”
Older Sydney properties are particularly susceptible to the damp and cold, and older double brick homes are considered the most vulnerable.
One renter who spoke to News.com reported mushrooms growing from a crack in her ceiling after ten calls to property maintenance went unactioned over more than a year. She lodged a complaint with Fair Trading before it was fixed.
The responsibility for mould problems depends on whether the issue is structural or ventilation-related. If the mould is due to a building or structural issue, it is most likely to be the responsibility of the owner. Ventilation-related issues, for example, if the mould is due to not opening windows or turning on fans, are likely to be the tenant’s responsibility.