What are the basic health concerns about mold and mildew?

Mold/mildew situation for rental tenant?

• I just moved into a townhome in California (Santa Clarita Valley) a week ago. When I was a prospective tenant, the place was occupied still by the previous tenant. The place had a pleasant odor, but there was scented candles burning when I came by. I have now discovered a prominent musty scent through the whole living area of the townhome. Never being in a moldy or mildewy environment, I wouldn't know the smell right away, but it has become apparent through some internet reading that it must be mold and mildew, prominently the invisible types. There is some evidence of visible mildew/mold by the tubs in the two bathrooms, which have no fans/vents, and now I can pinpoint that ammonia scent from the bathroom as by products of mold/mildew/bacteria living and breeding. The linoleum in the bathroom looks pretty new, but it's already peeling up in certain spots and I'm guessing there is going to be some nice mold/mildew accumulation there. Beyond that, the musty smell has permeated the whole townhome, and from I have read, it will be in the paint/drywall and carpeting, and to eliminate would essentially mean remodeling the entire townhome unit. Now for my question part. What should I do to handle this? I just moved in, and my cat is now sneezing as of last night. There was no knowledgeable disclosure by the rental agent of mold/mildew in the place. However, I fail to believe that someone in the business wouldn't recognize the musty smell immediately as compared to someone who could truly be ignorant as in my case. It will be a huge pain to find a new place and move again, but I think that is the best for my sanity (I have come to not being tolerant of the smell), my health, and the health of my cat and any other visitors. Also, I think moving into a clean place would be easier right now while I do not yet have any real furniture, as compared to living through some sort of remodeling/rehabilitation of this infected townhome unit. I haven't talked to the landlord yet, but maybe she will be easy going and let me off the lease without rental payment liability... otherwise I'd have to go to court and fight this, I guess....

• Answer:

  Don't mess around with Mold. There are Toxic strains which can harm airways or even cause death. http://homebuying.about.com/cs/mold/a/toxic_mold.htm http://www.startremodeling.com/Mold_Midew_Page.htm Seek an attorney asap! Btw--Bleach, Ammonia do NOT kill mold. They only "bleach" the black out and after a few days or sooner the mold feeds on the bleach and ammonia. Bleach and ammonia may PREVENT some mold/mildew growth but once growth has started neither product can clean, remove and disinfect mold/mildew.