Renter’s possessions destroyed by rampant mould in US home

A woman in the US has been left bewildered after being accused of causing a mould infestation in her rental property. 

The frustrated tenant took to social media to seek advice after her landlord claimed she had triggered the mould problem in the California property.

The woman, who lives with Lyme Disease, had moved out of the rental property late last year over the severity of the fungus issue.

“I had lived in a 100 year old house one block from the beach for a year from December 2023 to December 2024. I moved because the house was extremely moldy,” she wrote on Reddit. 

“All of my belongings and sentimental items were absolutely covered in mold and I felt it affect my health.”

She posted a photo of a Dr Marten shoe covered in what appears to be white fungus. 

She claimed the mould at the property intensified during the summer months. 

She would open all the screened windows of the home to aid ventilation and said she even bought “3 dehumidifiers and kept them running at all times”. 

Earlier this week, the renter claimed her former landlord had phoned her and began “absolutely berating her about the state of mould in the home.

She said the landlord, who now lives at the property, believes that she caused the mould infestation by not opening windows and having indoor plants. 

She said she had previously brought the mould problem to his attention and he had responded by installing a fan and putting screens on more of the windows. 

“I […] had a licensed contractor and inspector come visit the house over the summer and he found so many things structurally wrong with the house just from a 5 minute visit,” she said. 

“Is there any way this is my fault?” 

Her post was soon flooded with advice from outraged fellow renters.

“Absolutely not your fault,” one person wrote.

“Opening windows and all that airflow… means nothing when the building has structural defects including compromised waterproofing and roof leaks…

“I’d be absolutely furious if all my belongings ended up mouldy like that. I hope you put anything sentimental in ziplock bags and tossed the rest.”

“My old real estate asked I showered with the window open, yeah I did but it was nowhere near the shower so steam wasn’t going out it. The actual problem was there was no exhaust fan in the bathroom, that’s why there was a mould problem,” a second person wrote.

“I’d say not your fault BUT my ex housemate left her window closed for three years and never ever cleaned her room once in that whole time. When we left the walls were black with mould (but only in her room),” a third person wrote.

Mould is a common problem in older properties, especially in damp climates. 

In many legislations in Australia, mould is also a common source of disagreement between tenants and landlords because it can be difficult to attribute responsibility. 

In New South Wales, a tenant is legally required to keep the premises “reasonably clear” and take reasonable steps to mitigate mould. 

On the other hand, a landlord is required to keep the property in a reasonable state of repair, and to ensure that the premises are structurally sound – including being watertight. 

Tenants in NSW can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for repair orders if the landlord does not respond within three months. Tenants may also apply for compensation if their belongings were destroyed by mould. 

Similar laws apply in other legislations, including Victoria and Tasmania. 

In Victoria, rental providers are explicitly required to make sure all rooms are “free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure”.