Stupid Tenant Creates Mold Problem
She turned off the heat in her apartment and instead tuned on the gas oven. Hear reasoning for this is that it will cost her less in utility bills. I had no idea she had done this.
So last weekend she calls to tell us that there's mold near the window in the living room. My property managers went over there, and sure enough, there seems to be some mold starting to appear there. We've never had mold problems in any of our units. So they started asking her questions. That's when the whole oven thing came to light. This woman takes care of her grandkids during the day. I sympathize with anyone who may have financial concerns, but how dumb can you get. Anyway, we've told her to stop using the oven for heat and to turn on the heating.
But now I want to send her a formal letter expressing my concern about her behavior. And I should probably do something to address the mold problem. I'm getting an update from my property managers as to how bad it really is. But regardless, it should still be addressed. Any ideas on what to say in the letter, and how to address the actual mold situation?
At this level mold is easily dealt with. Mold requires a surface which is both warm and damp in order to grow. The water in the air condenses below the window due to its slighly lower temperature creating a prime mold enviornment. Stop pumping more water into the air by burning the stove (releases carbon monoxide and water) and wipe down the window sill with bleach.
In the letter point out that while the water is the cause of the mold Carbon Monoxide will kill people. Children, because their respiration rate is higher, are particularly susceptable. Explain that this is why the furnace is vented to the outside world which the stove is not. Be educational but firm. Send a copy to your local fire department and show them as copied at the bottom of the letter. If you wish you may say in the letter that you are sending them a copy of the letter to be on the record as having warned the tenant about the dangerous and hazardous condition which the tenant has created. Repeated occurances will be met with by a phone call to the Fire Department's enforcement Bureau so that they can write her a ticket and hand out fines.
Thanks Mark. I appreciate the explanation. This is exactly what I was looking for.
The saga continues.
Using Mark's explanation, I put together a letter that was strict, but which focused on the safety concerns rather than my tenant's stupidity. Sent it off the same day.
Yesterday evening my property manager get a call from her screaming nonstop, "How dare we send her this letter," and telling us that she absolutely not sign it. She then said, "I don't want to talk to you," and hung up. The only word my property manager was able to say in this entire conversation was "Hello".
I'd love to call her back and try to explain things to her. But her phone service was cut off for non-payment. Anyway, I've decided to give her 30 days notice to vacate. I've put together another letter. I've pasted the text below, and would appreciate any comments and suggestions on it. This is potentially both a safety and mold issue, and it could possibly go to court. I want to make certain that my correspondence with her shows me as being firm but fair, and ultimately concerned for people's safety. Thanks for your comments.
_____
As you stated in your telephone call yesterday to the property managers, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, you do not intend to sign and return our letter of October 19, 2004. It is therefore our understanding that you do not intend to comply with the instructions set out in that letter.
So as avoid confusion, the letter of October 19, 2004 stated that you must immediately cease to use your stove/oven as a means of heating your apartment, and instead make use of the building’s furnace, which is fully operational. Use of the stove/oven for heating purposes creates a dangerous environment by releasing carbon monoxide, a very dangerous gas, and also facilitating the formation and growth of mold.
Although unintentional, your actions were a clear violation of basic safety principles. Our expectation was that once notified of the dangers of this action by our letter of October 19, 2004, you would agree to comply with our instructions, and this issue would henceforth be resolved. However, your refusal to acceptance these instructions and cease such action, lead us to the understanding that you intend to continue knowingly and willfully violating these basic safety principles.
Your reaction to our letter was unexpected and disappointing. However, as this is an issue of safety not only for you, but also for other tenants, we simply cannot allow it to remain unresolved. We are therefore forced to notify you that in accordance with your month-to-month rental agreement we are serving you with 30 days notice within which we expect you to vacate your apartment.
Should you wish to discuss this matter further in a calm and orderly manner, please feel free to contact the property managers. However, unless we are able to find mutual agreement on this issue, we will expect you to vacate this apartment no later that November 30, 2004.
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Did you take his second piece of advice and go ahead and call the fire department? If she is going to refuse to listen to reason and use her oven to heat her home, they should be involved.
Just my opinion
[addsig]
I agree... that was an intelligent part of this potential hazard.
I would include them now if you have not.
Lastly, and I know this is a different tact, but if she is elderly and/or lower income, has anybody informed her of all of the help available in fuel fund type of programs? Maybe somebody could come along and be her hero. Get your Prop. Mngr. to call the local util and/or county. If not, the fire dept. might do that for her.