Tag Archives: Property Management

What NYC Property Managers Need to Know About Mold

Know Your Choices on How to Deal With Mold

Know Your Choices on How to Deal With Mold

If you’re a property manager in New York City, mold and fungus are probably issues you’ve dealt with before. There’s no doubt that you understand how serious this problem is, but there’s a lot about mold and fungus that you might not know. Having the right knowledge will help you determine your approach to mold problems as they arise in your properties.

What is Mold?

Mold refers to any indoor multi-cellular fungal growth that can lead to a host of medical issues. Some of these issues include pulmonary disorders, respiratory problems, neurological disorders, or other illnesses. There are a number of mold types that can fall under this definition.

NYC Property Managers: Mold Treatment

A new law went into effect last year, which requires that certain conditions be met before someone can be considered as a contractor capable of diagnosing and treating mold. These individuals must meet three different standards of excellence, which include:

• Having the proper level of training

• Obtaining and maintaining the right licensing

• Meeting minimal work standards

Your Options for Treating Mold and Fungus

Obviously, this new law might change who you choose to contract with for mold treatment services, and rightly so. Every effort is being made to protect the tenants in your properties, as well as to protect you as a property manager. If you have a mold problem, it’s very important to be certain that it’s treated properly and efficiently.

Stern Mold offers mold treatment services, and we meet all of the requirements under the new law. If you have a mold problem, and you’d like a free inspection, we’d love to help you. Contact us.

Mold Propensity Index (MPI) for Property Managers

Property Managers Need To Ensure Homes Are Free of Any Irritants, or a Family's Quality of Life Could Be Affected.

Property Managers Need To Ensure Homes Are Free of Any Irritants, or a Family’s Quality of Life Could Be Affected.

One of the worst situations you can come across as a property manager is finding out that one or more of your apartments has a problem with mold and fungus. Unfortunately, this issue can come up without warning in many cases, and once it does, it can spread like wildfire. However, you can protect your properties by completing an assessment of their risk for mold and fungus using the MPI, or Mold Propensity Index.

What is the MPI?

The MPI is a risk assessment that utilizes percentage points to determine a building’s probability of having issues with fungus and/or mold. The program asks you a series of questions to determine what your building’s risk level is. Once that part is completed, you’ll be given a score and then different tasks you can complete to lower the risk.

Other Benefits of the MPI Program

There are many other advantages to the MPI program as well. Completing this assessment prior to making a building purchase can give you insight into how much work will need to be completed to take care of mold and fungus problems. It also allows you to provide potential tenants with information prior to moving in so that their minds can be put at ease. Finally, it supplies you with all the data you need to not only control any current problems with fungus and mold, but also to prevent them from occurring in the future.

Having a mold inspection completed at your property is easily accomplished with the MPI program. However you can also opt for a professional inspection, which Stern Mold can help you with. Contact us today.

Property Managers Need to Keep an Eye Out For Mold

When property conditions present a health risk to tenants, a landlord has plenty to worry about besides repair costs. There are many problematic rental conditions for real estate and mold is at the top of that list.

In Jacksonville, Fla., an apartment complex is under legal scrutiny for renting apartments that are known to contain black mold. Property management has pledged to fix the problem, but tenants are filing a lawsuit.

Lawyers believe that damages may be owed to tenants who have suffered health problems related to mold. The property’s failure to procure mold treatment services in a timely manner and the leasing of apartments that already contained the mold may be more than sufficient grounds for a successful lawsuit.

According to the CDC, toxigenic mold has been linked to respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions similar to hay fever. These problems most commonly effect the young and elderly, those with existing conditions or weak immune systems, and occasionally people who are otherwise healthy.

In other words, all commercial and residential property managers likely have tenants at risk for health problems due to mold.

In the Florida lawsuit, the apartment complex and HUD, which subsidizes the apartments, may be liable for healthcare costs and personal injury damages. Had the property managers sought mold remediation and treatment sooner, the situation would likely have been avoided altogether.

The good news regarding real estate and mold concerns is that new, scientifically advanced methods of mold treatment and prevention are available.

The MoldExterm system avoids invasive remodeling and treats mold effectively before finishing with a durable sealant. Contact Stern Mold immediately if your property shows signs of black mold.