Landlords must notify tenants about mold

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   Division of Environmental Health

Landlords are Required to Notify Tenants about Mold

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During the 2005 legislative session, the Washington State legislature approved a bill , that requires landlords to notify their tenants about mold.  Engrossed Senate Bill  (ESB) 5049 (See especially Section 2 (12)  (Effective 7-24-2005).

The Department of Health has developed this web page to provide you with the materials you need as a landlord to comply with this new legislation.

Mold can impact human health.  For some, molds impact can be profound.  Mold may trigger an attack in people with asthma.  For people who are allergic to mold, exposure may cause allergy symptoms (not unlike hay fever).  Mold and the mycotoxins they may produce are still a topic of considerable debate; however mold should not be tolerated in the space where you live.

Senate bill 5049 requires landlords to notify tenants about mold.  Specifically, landlords must supply information to tenants about:

• The health hazards associated with exposure to indoor mold

• Steps to take to control mold growth in their dwelling units

Landlords must notify: New tenants starting July 24, 2005. Current tenants by January 1, 2006. Posting of this information in a visible, public location at the dwelling unit property is allowed.

The following information can be obtained from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) either electronically or in printed form.

Materials (Any one of the following documents will fulfill the notification requirements of Senate Bill 5049):

• DOH web page, “Got Mold”.

• Links to two sites for mold information in Spanish:

  • From California Department of Health Services, "Moho en Mi Casa:  Que Hago? (Mold in My House: What do I Do?)"

  • From University of Minnesota:  "Molds - Your Safe Home" - in Spanish. 

•  EPA document “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home".  This document is available in English and Spanish, both online and at 1-800-438-4318, . 

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, contact:

Laura White (360) 236-3090, or

Paul Marchant (360) 236-3363

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DOH Home | Access Washington | Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health. Office of Environmental Health and Safety Division of Environmental Health Washington State Department of Health PO Box 47825 Olympia, WA  98504-7825 Phone:  (360) 236-3385 Toll Free:  1(888)586-9427 Send inquiries about DOH and its programs to the Health Consumer Assistance Office. For comments or questions regarding this Web site, please send email to EHS Web Coordinator.

      Last Update : 03/05/2009 07:59 PM