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Rising Sun officials warn of escalating mold problems in rental housing; landlords, evictions cited
Summary
Town administrator said mold is becoming a growing problem in several rental properties, that landlords are not addressing leaks, and that cases are moving into separate court tracks where rent has been placed in escrow; he said the health department has no current jurisdiction and the town must consider its role.
The town administrator told the Board of Commissioners that mold in rental housing is escalating and the town is beginning to see multiple legal cases related to poor rental conditions.
He described situations in which tenants have withheld rent and placed it in escrow while landlords pursue eviction actions. "We have residents that are renting properties, and the landlords are refusing to take care of leaks...we're talking about mold that when you look at the corner of a room, the mold starts at the floor," he said, adding that some residents are living in "deplorable" conditions.
The administrator said the local health department currently has no jurisdiction over these issues and that the town needs to consider what role it should play when landlords fail to remediate hazardous housing conditions. He said he expected to be involved in additional court cases in the coming weeks related to mold and housing repairs.
No formal board action was taken at the meeting; the administrator asked the commission to weigh the town's potential responses and the board discussed the matter as an item for future consideration.
