Ottawa housing has troubling amounts of mold

An Ottawa subsidized housing development is facing accusations that mold may be affecting tenants’ health.  

Crumbling basement walls harbour the mold and a city inspector had ordered the repairs to be done by the end of October but they still have yet to be completed.

Some residents and their children living in the building at Pinecrest Terrace have preexisting conditions that are worsened by the mold and humidity, such as asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Mold growing inside an apartment or home can affect peoples’ health adversely, especially pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with compromised or weakened immune systems.

Sometimes mold is not a concern when it is merely a bit of mildew in the shower or on a window sill.

Mildew is still mold, but it can be easily removed with store bought cleaners and elbow grease.

If the mold is causing stains, smells, discolouration or weakening the structural integrity of materials like drywall or wood, then it should be removed.

If you live in an apartment, tell your landlord, and don’t attempt to clean even smaller patches of mold without their permission.

If there are signs of prior cleaning it may be harder to get them to remove it later.

If after a brisk cleaning the mold still returns, more action must be taken to lower the inhabitability of the environment by lowering the humidity and checking for any water damage.

Cleaning large areas of mold requires certain safety precautions like using rubber gloves and a dust mask, and possibly the hiring of an indoor air specialist. If there is a lot of mold, the apartment is very damp or you or a family member are experiencing health problems, a professional should be called in.

MoldInspections.ca ~ Providing Mold Inspection Services in Toronto, the GTA and Southwest Ontario.  Contact us today in Toronto at (416) 575-6111; London: (519) 434-0796 or Toll Free: 1 (866) 310-4219.