Industry Update May 2022
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Mould - who is responsible? Listen to podcast - Mould- tenant and lessor responsibilities in Queensland by Property Management Excellence (PME) Stacey Holt (anchor.fm)
Deciding who is responsible for cleaning mould depends on how it appeared in the first place. The tenant should notify the property manager/owner as soon as they are aware of a mould issue.
Generally, if the mould is a result of problems with the property (e.g. a leaking roof, or water damage found around a bathroom from leaking pipework) it is the property manager/owner’s responsibility to clean the mould and make any necessary repairs.
Some buildings may be more prone to mould due to factors such as the age of the building, structural issues, location, or the absence of adequate ventilation or extractor fans. The property manager/owner is more likely to be responsible for mould in these circumstances.
If the tenant causes the mould they are responsible for cleaning it and paying for any damage caused.
Example: if the tenant continually allows steam to build up in the bathroom without proper ventilation and/or regular cleaning, resulting in mould, they may be responsible for the mould.
Any specific arrangements about mould should be included in the special terms of the agreement.
Who is responsible for mould in a rental property?
It’s a grey area (or black or green) and one of the most commonly asked questions about rental property maintenance.
Mould comes in all shapes, forms, and places in a house or unit, and can be more wide spread depending on the season and where you are located in Queensland.
It usually occurs in damp, dark or steamy areas of the home - the bathroom or kitchen, cluttered storage areas, recently flooded or wet areas, and areas with poor ventilation.
In the aftermath of severe weather events, mould can quickly become an issue in water-damaged properties.
Deal with mould when it appears
If mould occurs, it should be dealt with quickly and thoroughly. In serious cases, a mould specialist may need to attend the property and determine the cause.
Mould in a regularly used shower recess may be the result of a persistent leak, while mould on the living room ceiling might indicate a structural problem or lack of ventilation.
When mould spores are present in large quantities, it can be a health hazard, potentially triggering allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 does not make specific reference to mould, but there are rules about the general standard of the property at the start and end of the tenancy, and how it should be maintained throughout.
Therefore, if mould is a problem at a rental property, all parties should be willing to communicate and find a mutually agreeable way to deal with the issue in a timely manner.
Read more or contact the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) .
Above sourced from www.rta.qld.gov.au