One of the big victories tenants have won at previous DC Tenant Town Halls is the right to sue their landlords in DC Superior Court over housing code violations. Before, only landlords could take tenants to court, but thanks to tenant organizing, DC renters now have a powerful tool to take action to improve conditions in their apartments.
But what if the problem in your apartment is mold?
If you have mold growing on the walls or ceiling or anyplace else in your apartment and you get a housing inspection from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the inspectors will tell you they can only cite the landlord for visible “dampness” or leaks in the walls or ceiling, but not for mold. So there is no mechanism for tenants to enforce their right to healthy housing that is free of mold.
One of the demands from this year’s 6th Annual Tenant Town Hall was for the DC Department of the Environment and DCRA housing inspectors to implement programs to inspect for mold (including testing for airborne mold spores), and hold landlords responsible for properly eliminating mold and its underlying sources.
Bruno Avila, president of the Tenant Association at 1111 Massachusetts Ave NW, will speak at the Tenant Town Hall about his building’s struggle with mold. Many of the 160 units at his building have mold, including a lot where families with children live.The tenant association has complained to the building owner and management about this problem since the property changed ownership a year and a half ago, but all they’ve done is just paint over the mold.
“We need to eliminate the problem, not just cover it up with makeup,” Bruno says. “They have to identify where the problem is coming from. We’re sick of them just doing band aid fixes, they need to get at the root of the problem.”
Often, when tenants complain to their landlord about mold, the landlord will paint over the mold without dealing with the underlying problem causing it. This means there may still be mold spores in the walls or ceiling and in the air, and the mold is likely to keep coming back.
Having mold in your apartment can be a serious health risk. Inhaling mold spores can lead to respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and asthma. According to the Children’s Health Fund, DC has the highest rate of asthma in the country, and mold is especially harmful to children with asthma.
At the Town Hall, Avila introduced a new campaign that focuses on eliminating problems like mold, asbestos, and lead that are health and safety concerns for DC tenants. Avila will also be calling on the DC Council to oversee these processes and work with tenants to ensure safe, healthy housing.
“It’s our responsibility to report the problem, but there needs to be a process for fixing it, and the government is responsible for making the laws to do this,” Bruno says.
