Mould in rental property QLD – Rental Law Change

IECL ensures that we are always paying attention to the mould remediation industry and events that affect it. As of 1^st of September 2023, minimum housing standards by the RTA have been updated, particularly around the circumstance of mould in a rental property in qld. Any tenancy signed on this date or afterwards will have these standards applied, as well as on-going tenancies. This change affects the nature of responsibility around mould for the landlord and the tenant.

Is it the landlords responsibility to get rid of mould?

Minimum housing standards dictate that property owners / managers must ensure that mould is not present in the property before a tenant moves in and that this responsibility lies with them. The only exception to this rule is if mould has been caused by the actions of the tenant. If this is the case, then the tenant is responsible for the mould.

Can a landlord charge you for mould?

The expected role of a tenant is to immediately notify the property owner / manager of mould. Who’s responsibility is based upon how the mould and excess moisture occurred. For property owners, responsibility for them is applicable if it is due to structural reasons and general wear and tear such as a leaking roof or shower breach. The tenant is responsible in circumstances such as when the tenant has not allowed for adequate ventilation such as opening doors and windows or carrying out activities that allow excess moisture to occur. Additionally, If a tenant has allowed a mould situation to grow over a long period of time without notification and is easily noticeable, this is a factor to consider. Therefore it is really due to the circumstances that dictates who should pay to remediate the mould. IECL is able to provide services to help clarify by identifying the source of the mould and how it should be fixed.

How IECL Can Help

IECL can help identify the source of the mould, taking into account environmental factors, structural defects, moisture spread, mould lab sample analysis, moisture testing and liaising with the property owner and tenant more should the situation require it. Here is what we can offer:

• Detect moisture source
• Moisture spread / leak
• Surface and airborne mould testing
• Identify causing factors to alleviate confusion
• identify severity and spread of mould – airborne, visual spread and non-visual spread
• Lab analysis of mould samples
• documentation of mould, moisture and severity including pictures, readings and results
• Collation into report for insurance purposes
• Recommended scope of works to mould remediation industry standards

Mould report Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast

IECL technicians understand the sensitive nature of mould in a rental property and we can help identify the sources that are causing the mould as well as what kind of mould it is. We achieve this by physically inspecting the property, assessing environmental factors, collecting samples, testing these samples at the labs and collating this information and assessment into a report. Our analysis is informed by years of industry experience in mould remediation and study in the field of mycology. We offer mould inspections, mould testing and mould reports in Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Toowoomba and Wollongong.

Please click here to look at our mould inspection page for more information. Filling out the form will let us know your details and we will get in contact with you as ASAP. Other than that, you are welcome to give us a call on 1300 03 004 or flick us an email at admin@ieclabs.com.au.

For more information click here for RTA article on rental changes.

Mould can have a damaging effect on your home and on the people who live there. If you suspect moisture or mould problems in your home, it’s important to have a professional mould inspection as soon as possible.

Mould often occurs in hidden, hard to reach places, and can build up over time through no fault of your own. In addition to causing serious physical damage to buildings and belongings, mould can also affect the air quality and health of your family.

Air quality is often one of those hard things to quantify by ourselves. If your house fills with smoke after burning something on the stove, it’s pretty easy to see the problem and fix it by opening a window or two. But most issues with air quality are much more subtle, often going unnoticed for long periods of time. Poor quality air, like air with high levels of pollutants, carbon dioxide or contaminants like mould can have serious health effects. Studies have found poor air quality can lead to increased rates of asthma, decreased cognitive function and intelligence, and significantly lower academic performance in school kids. This video is a great crash course for what how stale air affects the human body.

Best conditions for drying of concrete slabs

There are four main factors which influence the rate at which a concrete slab dries. These are: time, temperature of material, airflow over material and difference in relative humidity between the slab and the air.  All four of these factors should be controlled in order to effectively dry a concrete slab.

Physical Removal of Mould is Key

Current mould remediation guidelines state that physical removal of mould should be the normal course of action, and that use of chemicals to kill mould is NOT recommended.

Workplace mould can be a major concern for Australian businesses. As an employer who wants to protect their staff, it’s important to be aware of the negative effects of mould, and to carry out regular air quality testing. If you want to protect your workers, mould removal and remediation is crucial.