Sunday, September 16, 2007

i think the mold problem is being taken care of

Hi you all.  Wow, it has been a long time.  I've been commenting in journals here and there when I have had time, which hasn't been very often.  Sorry.

John and I had to do major battling with the apartment management to resolve the mold problem in my new apartment.  We are still at my parent's house and the workmen at the apartment are still working on removing the mold and repairing the walls in our laundry room at the new apartment.

A lot transpired since I last wrote.  More photos had to be taken of the mold and water damage.  The workmen would do some work during the day.  And I would then sneak in at night and take photos of the mold.  It's my place, the rent is already paid, but I wanted to inspect the progress while they weren't there.  That way they couldn't just patch it up, and lie about what they were doing.  And I could get the proof in photos.  I wanted to prove, in court if necessary, that they were just patching over the mold, because John and I confronting management directly wasn't working.  I felt like a spy, LOL.  John couldn't come into the apartment with me to look around and take the photos, because he couldn't be around the mold, even with a mask on.  So it was pretty stressful, because I had to go in alone, but I went in the room and took the photos anyway. 

That was not this Sunday but the previous Sunday.  Then on Monday I called a lawyer.  Thanks you all for the suggestion!  The lawyer told management, who own a lot of properties in the town where John and I live, that they must remove all the mold from our apartment, remove the water damage, and rebuild the walls and paint them.  Management at our particular apartment was also called.  They were told they better get on the ball.

Funny.  Suddenly a new workman showed up, ready to do all kinds of work for us.  I told him exactly what I wanted done.  Which walls needed to be done, because I could see the mold damage.  There was some black mold on the surface of the walls, so I knew there would be some green mold on the 2 by 4s, just as there was on the other section of the wall.  I showed him that, the water damage, the moldy shelf.  I showed him exactly what I wanted done.  He agreed with me.  He told me exactly what he would do in the same situation, before I could even get to it.  We matched exactly.  I was happy.  We made a verbal agreement.  BIG MISTAKE.  I left happy at that point.

He told me it would take a week or two to finish the repairs as they were large.

I left happy.  But because I had had experience, LOL, I continued to take photos during the week at night.  Okay, I am trying to sum this up, LOL. 

On Thursday night, I went to take my photos.  That is when I noticed, to my horror, that one wall was patched up that shouldn't have been.  Some of it, however still remained  cut out and unpatched.  I looked inside.  To my horror I saw green two by fours!

The next morning (Friday) I called the head workman W. up (the one I had just spoken to, who had been so agreeable to the necessary mold removal.)  W. proceeded to lie to me, contradicting himself allover the place.  His contradictions made me know he was lying.  I told him I wanted certain parts of the wall cut out that contained water damage with mold on it and behind it, as he had promised a few days prior.  He admitted that the wall had contained mold, but said in a snotty voice, something like, "Look, I'll do it, but you know it is just going to take longer before you can move in."  I told him that that was fine, and that I didn't want to live with mold.  I didn'twant the mold to kill John.  He grumbled and said he would take care of the job the way I wanted it.

I wondered why he was so agreeable in the first place and then had changed.  I think he thought he could get away with doing less and that I wouldn't check at night.  That he would just patch the one wall, paint everything, and that I would not have checked and thought he would have done ALL the walls.  Well I am NOT that stupid.

What I am thinking is that the management (at highest level) might have tried to force him into finishing early.  She is the one who originally went to HUD and told Betty there was no mold.  The one who originally lied.  I think she was trying to fool HUD and even the lawyer.  The lawyer told me to return if I didn't have satisfaction in getting the mold removed.  Trust me, I would have gone back to him if the mold wasn't taken care of!

I think everything is ending on a great note, though

Valerie and I went and looked yesterday (they usually don't work on Saturdays, LOL), and it looks like W. and the workmen have done what John and I told W. to do.  Three more sections of the wall have been cut out.  The inner parts of the wall appear to be mold free, and have been or will be painted with mold resistent chemicals.  The plasterboard will then be put back on.  And the whole thing will have to be repainted with mold resistent paint (two coats).  The shelf will need a little refinishing also.  

Okay, so this will take awhile.  We hope to be moved back in by the weekend. 

Should we ask for most of this month's rent back, LOL? 

Love you all,

Krissy 

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30 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you are getting this risky problem solved......finally!!!! Good for you for sticking to your guns!
    love ya,
    carlene

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  2. Always get it in writing Krissy. They will cheat you every way they can. talk to the lawyer about this and what rights you have. Tammy

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  3. Hopefully the mould problem will soon be solved and you can both move into your new home. Good for hiring a lawyer to get things done properly.

    Love Sandra xxxx

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  4. Glad you are getting the mould problem sorted Krissy.  I agree with a previous comment, any more problems ask them to put what they are saying in writing.  You cannot take any chances with John's health or even your own.  Mould is dangerous.

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  5. It is so sad that we have to check on people to make sure their work is done properly.  So often though, that is what happens.  Glad you stuck to it and followed through.  I would ask the management for a partial return if not all on the rent as it was their fault you couldn't move in.  Take care, I'll be praying, 'On Ya' -ma

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  6. I wouldn't move in until the mold is seen to be removed, Krissy. You've indicated that this work needs checking up on, and I think you've been treated abominably.

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  7. Krissy...there are Landlord/Tenant rights forms available at your local State Representative's office.  You are in PA.....so am I.  I went to local state rep's house and got the forms I needed to go after a landlord YEARS ago and I won!!!
    I'd check into getting your rent credited for the month.
    Hugs,
    Gina

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  8. Call the lawyer and ask what rights you have with regard to the rent.  Personally I think they should pro-rate the rent, even if they have to do that over a two month period.  Because of failure on their part (by not doing it right the 1st time) it is not your fault that you have not moved in.  Love and prayers always coming your way, Penny  http://journals.aol.com/firestormkids04/FromHeretoThere http://journals.aol.com/firestormkids04/TimeforaLittlePoetry

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  9. Krissy so glad you saw an attorney and that you stuck to your guns on what had to be done to make it safe for John and you....thank goodness you are one of those woman who won't settle for just anythng or gives in to get it over and down with....so proud of you. Have a good day.  Arlene (AJ)

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  10. I don't trust contractors as far as I can throw them. I'm glad you kept an eye on them and it's getting done to your satisfaction. You bet you should get your money back for the rent. No doubt about it. They should prorate it according to how long you were unable to live there. Ask your attorney about that.
    Have a good weekend.
    Pam

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  11. This whole thing is so frustrating for you.  I hope they get this whole thing fixed so  you can go about your business ASAP.  Take care and have a good Sunday.

    Phil

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  12. Yes, you shouldn't have to pay for the time you couldn't live there... what if you were renting a hotel for all that time??

    Joann

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  13. Absolutely, you should at least be credited for that month's rent.  It's their fault that they let this situation get so bad that all this work had to be done.  And you should not have to pay one dime for the days you could not live in that apartment.  The people who own the building, right down to the onsite manger should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen.  I was just reading in our Sunday paper that NO ONE, healthy or not...should live in a moldy environment.  It is very dangerous to even healthy people.  All sorts of health problems stem from mold in a house or an apartment.  Keep putting your foot down, Krissy.  And I'd ask for an inspection from someone who's knowledgeable about mold problems, and have a written report that everything is ok,  before you even move a hairbrush into that apartment.  Linda in Washington state

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  14. WOW what a long and messey place!! It's good you got in there and took the pics and I'm sure the lawyer either liked to see them or would have liked to. But as for the rent just ask that it be credited to next months rent!!!! But good luck on moving back in next weekend!!!! Much love and prayers for you and John!!!

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  15. holy cow it is taking them forever to fix it! hope it all gets fixed and you guys can move in soon:)

    Deb

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  16.  I definitely would ask for the back rent or insist the rent be free this month.  What a nightmare for you and congratulations for sticking in there and getting it done right.  You go girl!

                          Julie

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  17. Praying all of this is resolved and completely taken care of, for both your sakes.  -  Barbara

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  18. Glad to see this is finally getting resolved. I would ask for the rent to be put toward next months, seeing as you where unable to live on the premises, no fault of your own but theirs. (Hugs) Indigo

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  19. wow!!!
    Becky

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  20. Ah yeah.  Tell them they owe it to you.  Its only fair.  I will be praying for you and John.  Hugs.  Tish G.  

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  21. Goodness -- how awful that folks will lie and not do what is right so easily!  A good thing you are watching them carefully!
    loving you
    karyl

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  22. I may hire you if i need an investigator...lol

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  23. it's so sad you have to check up... what the hell happened to workers these days?  GRRRRRRRR  Glad it's coming together tho
    hugs
    d

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  24. Wow... unbelievable that W would lie to your face like that... glad that the lawyer worked!  Soon you will be settled in...

    be well,
    Dawn
    http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

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  25. LOL...I would ask for the rent but don't expect it.  That would be another fight.  Glad you got this taken care of.  Becky had the County Health Dept. fight her appt. management.  It got fixed last week.  The County Health Dept. came out again to inspect this past Friday with some sort of machine or thingie that checks for hidden mold.  All clear!  I would still ask your lawyer about having management pay to have an inspector come and check just to make sure that all the mold is definitely removed.  If not, your County Health Dept. does this all for nothing when it deals with renting.  Good luck!  It sounds like everything is moving along well finally.  Love you, Chris

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  26. We will call you Inspector Krissy and order you your trench coat..... lol....
    You are doing a great job getting this taken care of!!!
    Big hugs!
    Linda :)

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  27. Glad to hear things are finally getting sorted. Take care my friend.
    Love & hugs
    Sylvia xx

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  28. Yay!  Krissy!  I can't wait until you get to move in your new place.  I am so excited for you!  Once you have some time to get settled, I will be calling you.  So, be sending me your new phone number when you get it.  Yay! Krissy!  I Love You! Merry

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  29.     THANK GOD! You deserve more than just one month's rent after all this hassle. I'm just glad that you guys are all right. Good luck with the rest.
    Jude
    http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

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  30. I don't know what happened Krissy, but it seems your alerts haven't been coming through to me FOR AGES ... argh!  So, I'm catching up but won't be commenting every where.  Oh Dear!

    Hello to John and hugs to both of you!
    Kathy

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