Renters: Beware of toxic mold!

Beware of the mold being found in apartments in Orange County and beyond which leasing companies know about but have been hiding from tenants just to get them to sign a lease!

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OC Renters Getting Screwed!

Orange County apartment leasing and property management companies are knowingly renting moldy apartments and other properties to renters even though these properties are 'substandard' and not rentable per state law! If you are a renter and are tired of paying full "market-value" rent for a moldy place to live, demand a rent reduction from your landlord. If they refuse, contact the Fair Housing Council of Orange County at (714) 569-0823 and file a complaint. Simply click on the 'Test For Mold' link left to determine if your apartment has mold. If it does, take action and file a complaint today!

Homeowners click here (this mold issue impacts you and your home value as well)

Renting from the following moldy properties below could be harmful to your health.
These complexes are knowingly leasing moldy apartments just to get your money!
Click here to see how apartment complexes and homeowners could have their insurance cancelled

Complex
Company
City
Westridge
Western National
Lake Forest
Avila
Greystar
Santa Margarita
Prisma
Western National
Santa Ana
Adagio On The Green
Wermers
Mission Viejo
Huntington Highlander
Western National
Huntington Beach
Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods Village
Laguna Woods
Spring Lakes
Western National
Lake Forest
Aventine
Pacific Coast
Aliso Viejo
Mosaic
Western National
Mission Viejo
Villa Solana
Equity Residential
Laguna Hills
Trabuco Woods
Western National
Lake Forest
Park & Paseo
Greystar
Santa Ana
Vantis
Shea
Aliso Viejo
River Oaks
River Oaks Management
Lake Forest
San Miguel Apartments
Canon
Huntington Beach
Axiom
LeaseLabs
Tustin
Enclave
Cannon
Menifee
St. Moritz
Greystar
Aliso Viejo
Emerald Court
Western National
Lake Forest
City Lights
Shea
Aliso Viejo
The Havens
Essex
Fountain Valley
Wood Canyon
Western National
Aliso Viejo
Vista Del Lago
Equity Residential
Mission Viejo
Saddleback Ranch
Triumph Prop.
Mission Viejo
Eaves
Avalon
Santa Margarita
Villas Aliento
Western National
Santa Margarita
Barcelona
Greystar
Aliso Viejo
Ridgecrest
SRG Residential
Lake Forest
Skyview
Equity Residential
Santa Margarita
Paloma Summit
Sequoia
Foothill Ranch
Crestwood
Advanced Management
Lake Forest
Solana Ridge
Greystar
Temecula
Woodbridge
Shea
Irvine
South Pointe
Arnel Management
Costa Mesa
Parkwood
Irvine Company
Irvine
Idyllwillow
A&M Prop Management
Mission Viejo
Sienna Terrace
Equity Residential
Lake Forest
Newport Bluffs
Irvine Company
Newport Beach
Seaside
Shea
Laguna Niguel
Sonterra
Equity Residential
Foothill Ranch
The Highlands
Lyon Apartment Co
Trabuco Canyon
Aliso Creek
SRG Residential
Mission Viejo
Advice when shopping for a NEW apartment
Before you start shopping for a new apartment, click on the PDF link above to learn how you can do a mold test of apartments while you are inside looking at them. If the moisture test is positive, the apartment you are looking at likely has hidden mold that may not be visible and so therefore, you would be smart to walk away because of how mold can cause health issues including skin, respiratory, mental/cognitive, and other issues. However, if you still want to rent the apartment, look at the leasing company's Mold Addendum first (before you sign anything) to see what recourse you have if the hidden mold becomes worse/visible after you lease the apartment (California Senate Bill 655 is also good to know about). Make sure there is language in the lease/Mold Addendum about providing you a temporary place to live at no cost to you while the repairs are done. If this language is missing or the agreement says that cases like this are handled on a "case-by-case" basis or the leasing rep tries to claim that this would be covered by your renter's insurance, ask for a rent reduction to compensate you for the risk you would be taking in renting the apartment. If the leasing company says 'no', find another place to rent to avoid getting screwed later.
Advice for EXISTING renters
Many renters don't realize that their apartments may contain hidden mold that can cause health issues including skin, respiratory, mental/cognitive, and other issues. Therefore, it's critical that you click the PDF icon above to learn how you can do a mold test in your apartment in seconds. If your apartment tests positive for moisture, hidden mold likely exists. The next step should be to contact your leasing office and demand that they fix the problem. Per California law (click red link below for info), moisture (dampness) inside an apartment makes the apartment 'substandard' and not tenantable and therefore, leasing offices are required by law to fix the problem or face fines and possible jail time per California Senate Bill 655. Once the problem is fixed, you should do the moisture test again to verify that the problem was resolved and every two months afterwards. If your lease is up for renewal, read the Mold Addendum carefully (before signing a new lease) to see what happens if the mold problem reoccurs or becomes worse. Make sure there is language in the renewal's Mold Addendum about providing you a temporary place to live at no cost to you while the repairs are done. If this language is missing or the agreement says that cases like this are handled on a "case-by-case" basis or the leasing rep tries to claim that this would be covered by your renter's insurance, ask for a rent reduction to compensate you for the risk you would be taking by renewing. If the leasing company says 'no', find another place to rent to avoid getting screwed later.
Status: V = Verified | R = Reported
Click here to view California Dept. Of Public Health mold brochure (a renter "must-read")
Read about what mold did to a Newport Beach renter below:
Click the PDF icon to read the Register's article which has apartment complexes in Orange County worried because of how the Irvine Company set an example (per the article) where they offered tenants a break on rent after tenants discovered mold in their Irvine Company apartments. Now, any apartment renter in Orange County and beyond who discovers mold in their apartment can use this example to seek a rent reduction where they live. Tenants may also be able to leverage this mold problem to break their leases. Click the PDF icon left to read the Register's story. More mold-related lawsuits are expected to be filed in 2024 as tenants take action. Mold is a serious threat to short and long-term health and should be taken seriously especially by those with existing health/immune/skin issues, people with children, and the elderly.