Re: Choosing a New Appartment and Signing a Lease

[Guest guest]

I've been looking for an apartment for awhile and because of all those who are

having their homes foreclosed on they have to move and it's usually into an

apartment making it harder to find something that's affordable and safe. In my

experience the manager isn't going to let you work out any special arrangements

concerning mold, if you suspect there's mold don't take the apartment guaranteed

someone will rent it out the following day.

I found the perfect apartment just yesterday but because they had just cleaned

the carpets and painted I became dizzy the minute I walked inside so I had to

pass and the search continues. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've

had to pass on a place because it's been freshly painted i asked them if they

could air it out but they said they couldn't, why I don't know. Foreclosures are

up all over the nation so I'm sure finding an apartment that is willing to work

with you is going to be somewhat difficult no matter where you live.

>

> I'm looking for a new appartment and plan to move January 1st. Any practical

tips for me? Obviosuly there should be no sign of molds, but what else could I

do? Like ask the owner and neighboors for signs of water damage? Are they likely

to be honest/knowledgeable?

>

> I'm thinking of going for a building that wasnt built/renovated since 2001

(especially since 2004) because of chinese drywall concerns. Not too old either

because I suppose it increases the chances of water damage. So a building built

in the 90s, and in an area where air quality appears good (In Los Angeles I

think close to the Pacific is better).

>

> No carpet, no leaks, a clean-looking appartment is mandatory. But I'm

wondering what else I could do to protect my health. For example would you ask

the owner to visit the " basement " of the building to see if the plumbing is

leaking? Or would you take a dust sample and send it overnight to a lab like

mycometrics to run the EMRI? I fear that could give false negatives because the

appartment was likely repainted and thoroughly cleaned.

>

> Do you think the landlord would accept that I put a clause in the lease saying

that if at some point 1 of the 36 species tested in the EMRI comes back higher

than (?) then I'm allowed to move out without " lease breaking " penalties?

>

[Guest guest]

There's no way of knowing if a landlord is honest unless it's a friend.  You

could ask to talk to previous or current tenants.

You get one of those moisture meters to test the walls & ceilings. Only other

way is to run tests.

If you find something nice, ask for a copy of their lease &   read it over 1st.

Some have things written in that would surprise you.

Has anyone been successful w a clause if react due to allergies, could break the

lease if became a problem?

Kathy

[Guest guest]

You might check check for an agency in your area on renting and ask if they

have some advice.

 

I got out of 2 leases w/ a note from my dr. stating my sensitivity to mold,

chemicals... can't remember exactly how she worded it.  Also, one of the

doctors in my dept (I was working at the time) made a call to the manager of

the 1st apt, telling her of me getting ill every time they painted, cleaned,

put in new flooring, etc. at work and that helped.

 

Before I got that note I had gone to a city agency on renters.  They gave me a

form to fill out and give the manager/owner which states that they must let me

out of the lease if there is something in there making me ill if they cannot fix

it.  Again, I don't remember how it was worded. 

 

Although I got out of the lease I had to leave my furniture and all belongings

in the apts while I rented a motel suite until I found a safe place to love

-- a total of 4 mos

 

....Corky

 

 

 

 

I'm looking for a new appartment and plan to move January 1st. ...........  Do

you think the landlord would accept that I put a clause in the lease saying that

if at some point 1 of the 36 species tested in the EMRI comes back higher than

(?) then I'm allowed to move out without " lease breaking " penalties.

[snipped]

[Guest guest]

Another thing you should to give you a better idea of the apartment your

thinking of renting is to ask to see the maintenance records for that

particular unit most mangers keep records that go back at least 2 years but I've

seen some that go back at least 4 years.

>

>

> There's no way of knowing if a landlord is honest unless it's a friend.  You

could ask to talk to previous or current tenants.

>

> You get one of those moisture meters to test the walls & ceilings. Only other

way is to run tests.

>

> If you find something nice, ask for a copy of their lease &   read it over 1st.

Some have things written in that would surprise you.

>

> Has anyone been successful w a clause if react due to allergies, could break

the lease if became a problem?

>

> Kathy

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

First the general tips because they will guide your practical tips:

Determine as best you can what you react to and what type of

complaints they trigger. Prioritize them based on impact

(nuisance thru to severe). Inspect the new apartment for those

sources and conditions associated with them. Monitor your

immediate and delayed reactions.

If it seems okay then ask someone familiar with your needs who

is independent of the owner or anyone else with a vested interest

in renting the apt to provide additional information from a different

point of view. If you can find a professional appropriate for what

you want that is even better. Then make a decision. Right or

wrong, learn from what happens so the chances of a repeat will

decrease next time. You are creating the information you need to

make a better decision.

For practical tips you have a good handle on those in terms of

water damage. Look for staining, not just mold. You are on the

right track to realize that just because an apartment has been

recently cleaned and painted doesn't necessarily mean there

aren't hidden sources.

You can test with ERMI to provide an initial point of " information "

but I would not link your reason for termination to this or anything

else that has so many errors and variabilities. What if you find

you can't tolerte the apartment because of hidden mold inside

walls or a ceiling? The chemical components would get out to

expose you but the spores and hyphal fragments wouldn't. Then

you'd be stuck. Or, in a couple of months they spray for insects

or weeds and you react. ERMI has nothing to do with that and

chemical testing could easily cost more than your security

deposit.

Quite frankly, your reactions will tell the tale. If you react after a

few minutes or a short visit then it makes little difference what

caused it and you don't need to exactly, precisely figure it out and

convince the owner. Just don't rent.

After you find a place which seems to meet all your requirements

and you are not reactive (or its only a slight nuisance) then bring

in a friend and/or a professional to look for sources which may be

hidden or which you aren't familiar with.

If I go into detail about forced air heating, for example, or carpets,

I would have to write pages and pages for each of all the

variables for when it is okay, when it isn't in the context of what

you are reactive to, how much and how quickly, and how rapidly

you recover (or slowly). And it would only be a guess because I

wouldn't know anything about you. Specifically. And that is the

context which determines the meaning of everything. Which is

why someone familiar with you or how to discern it is so

important.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

I'm looking for a new appartment and plan to move January 1st. Any

practical tips for me? Obviosuly there should be no sign of molds, but

what else could I do? Like ask the owner and neighboors for signs of

water damage? Are they likely to be honest/knowledgeable?

I'm thinking of going for a building that wasnt built/renovated since

2001 (especially since 2004) because of chinese drywall concerns. Not

too old either because I suppose it increases the chances of water

damage. So a building built in the 90s, and in an area where air quality

appears good (In Los Angeles I think close to the Pacific is better).

No carpet, no leaks, a clean-looking appartment is mandatory. But I'm

wondering what else I could do to protect my health. For example would

you ask the owner to visit the " basement " of the building to see if the

plumbing is leaking? Or would you take a dust sample and send it

overnight to a lab like mycometrics to run the EMRI? I fear that could

give false negatives because the appartment was likely repainted and

thoroughly cleaned.

Do you think the landlord would accept that I put a clause in the lease

saying that if at some point 1 of the 36 species tested in the EMRI comes

back higher than (?) then I'm allowed to move out without " lease

breaking " penalties?

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[Guest guest]

I have had to move many times since I became ill and I never tell the landlords.

Seems like they don't want people with a problem. The people at my current place

know I have a problem with chemicals, etc. but I didn't tell them in the

beginning. I don't let exterminators in and don't need them. I don't think too

many complexes are going to go that extra mile for us. Sad to say.

>

> I've been looking for an apartment for awhile and because of all those who are

having their homes foreclosed on they have to move and

[Guest guest]

Seriously? Test the apt? 1 of ERMI species gets you an " opt out " ?

What landlord will give yo that? none.

What IEP will support this request? none.

How will you justify it? you can't.

We want to help, but you are making it difficult.

You have not read the posts from Carl, Jack, and myself.

Please do so. Now. Before you waste your money and more of our reading time. You

are not getting this are you?

>

> I'm looking for a new appartment and plan to move January 1st. Any practical

tips for me? Obviosuly there should be no sign of molds, but what else could I

do? Like ask the owner and neighboors for signs of water damage? Are they likely

to be honest/knowledgeable?

>

> I'm thinking of going for a building that wasnt built/renovated since 2001

(especially since 2004) because of chinese drywall concerns. Not too old either

because I suppose it increases the chances of water damage. So a building built

in the 90s, and in an area where air quality appears good (In Los Angeles I

think close to the Pacific is better).

>

> No carpet, no leaks, a clean-looking appartment is mandatory. But I'm

wondering what else I could do to protect my health. For example would you ask

the owner to visit the " basement " of the building to see if the plumbing is

leaking? Or would you take a dust sample and send it overnight to a lab like

mycometrics to run the EMRI? I fear that could give false negatives because the

appartment was likely repainted and thoroughly cleaned.

>

> Do you think the landlord would accept that I put a clause in the lease saying

that if at some point 1 of the 36 species tested in the EMRI comes back higher

than (?) then I'm allowed to move out without " lease breaking " penalties?

>

[Guest guest]

corky lux,

you simply presented the doctor's letter to the landlord and they let you move

away without penalty and without troubles, or you had to go to court or

something?

The form that " states that they must let me out of the lease if there is

something in there making me ill " did you have to present it before you sign the

lease? It would be something like a rent control board, or really a

tax-payer-paid city agency?

Carl,

that's very good information for a clause on Habitability. In your experience

were most landlords willing to add it in the lease, even if it's very generally

worded? Arent they scared the tenants will be able to break the lease for no

valid reason?

Also, would you please post the key sentences that you successfully got to add

to leases?

One of my problem is with the exception of chemicals like bleach, sprays,

perfumes, etc. I typically dont react to anything on the spot. So I know I dont

do well with carpets, but I wont react within the time of a visit.

Do you suggest forced air heating can be a problem for spreading molds or other

toxins around? Sounds plausible. That's the kind of observation that I need to

make a better decision.

,

I agree that I'm not fully (at all) understanding the depth of your posts. Maybe

you could tell me which post in particular of Carl, Jack and yourself you

suggest I read first? (It's impossible to go through it all.. I wish there was

" sticky posts " like in forums).

I suppose here IEP means Indoor Environmental Professional (not Independent

Evaluation Plan or a Integrated execution plan or whatnot)?

I'm glad you find it difficult to help me, it makes me feel better, because I

find it very difficult to get straight, bs/self promotion-free answers in this

group. So maybe we can figure out how to communicate more effectively. I think I

always post my goals very clearly. Maybe the suggestions I make reflect a very

poor understanding of indoor polluants and the legal modalities regarding such

problems? I'm here to learn..

In case my goals in this thread arent clear, they are to find tricks of the

trade to improve the chances that the indoor environment I will live in will be

better than the one I have now (short of tearing down all the walls, to check

for water damage/molds/staining, before signing the lease) and what legal

protection might be possible to facilitate getting out of my lease in the case

that I start to react to something in the appartment.