Rental Rights

Personal Injury Lawyer Salt Lake City UT

It is frustrating to rent a home or apartment that is managed by a landlord or management company that does not maintain the property and therefore exposes you to health risks. One example of this is the presence of mold in the home or building. Exposure to toxic mold can cause significant health issues such as chronic fatigue, rashes, asthma, loss of cognitive ability, and hemorrhaging. As a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City UT from Rasmussen & Miner can tell you, victims of serious health conditions caused by mold or other violations of rental rights may be eligible for compensation from negligent dwelling owners.

If you believe mold exists in your rental unit, your landlord may be liable for paying medical costs associated with treating your mold-related health condition. If your physician has confirmed that your health has been affected in this way, call Rasmussen & Miner to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City UT who can provide you with valuable guidance.

Common Types of Mold

Our firm understands that a tenant can develop a serious illness over time when they are exposed to mold in the home. There are many types of molds which can be present in the home:

• Penicillium
• Aspergillus
• Stachybotrys
• Paecilomyces
• Fusarium

Mold can vary in color — some are black, green, gray or white. Mold can be shiny or powdery. Some molds are gross and smell terrible; yet others are unseen and lurk behind walls, under floors and ceilings or in basements and attics.

Mold can be found on materials that are water soaked. Areas such as wall paneling, paint, ceiling tiles, fabric, cardboard boxes or newspapers. High humidity along with moisture provides the perfect breeding ground for mold. When a landlord is aware of the presence of mold in a dwelling, but does not make a reasonable effort to address it, may be held liable if the occupants develop a health condition. A personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City UT from our firm can review your circumstances and your rental rights to determine how we may be able to assist you.

A Landlord’s Responsibility for Mold Exposure

Legally, there are no federal laws that set exposure limits for mold in residential settings. If mold is discovered in the rental unit due to the tenant’s actions or inaction, the landlord may not be liable. However, the landlord may still be at fault for a mold problem in a rental unit because the landlord is responsible for providing safe and livable housing. A personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City UT from Rasmussen & Miner can review your legal options.

A Renter’s Right to a Secure and Well-Maintained Space

No discussion of rental rights can be complete without mentioning a renter’s right to a safe, properly maintained space. If your space doesn’t have mold, that’s great. But being mold-free doesn’t mean that your rental property is necessarily safe. If your residential or commercial landlord leaves your space vulnerable to electrocution accidents by failing to address fraying wires, vulnerable to break-ins by failing to maintain locks, vulnerable to the elements because they refuse to fix broken windows, etc., they are failing to honor your rights as a renter. The variety of scenarios that could be considered violations of your rights are seemingly endless. But generally speaking, if you’re not reasonably safe in your space and your landlord refuses to address the safety hazards in question in a reasonably timely manner, your rights as a renter are likely being infringed upon. If so, please connect with the experienced Utah legal team at Rasmussen & Miner to explore your legal options in a confidential setting.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Deal with a Rental Rights Issue?

Landlords wield a significant amount of power but they may absolutely be held accountable for infringing upon a renter’s rights. However, it can be very difficult to “take on” this kind of challenge alone. For starters, you may be understandably concerned that speaking up could cause your landlord to retaliate against you. Additionally, if you have already asked your landlord to address a safety hazard and they haven’t responded, you may not have the luxury of asking repeatedly until they “get around to” addressing it. When your personal safety and the safety of either your family or your business is at stake, you need hazards addressed now – not later. Speaking with our firm can help to ensure that you are neither retaliated against nor dismissed for asserting your rights as a renter. We understand how to efficiently and effectively communicate with landlords in ways that protect our clients’ interests.

What Do I Do First?

Your next step is to schedule a consultation with our firm. Once a consultation is scheduled, take a little time to prepare for that consultation. Find a copy of your rental agreement to bring along to your consultation. The more we understand about your rental situation, the more empowered we’ll be to advocate on your behalf effectively. Additionally, track down your landlord’s contact information and the contact information of anyone else you think we may need to speak with about your legal issues. If you have the names and numbers of any witnesses to infractions of your rights as a renter, please bring this information along as well.

Contact an Experienced Lawyer Who Can Protect Your Rights

If you have reason to believe that the mold in your rental unit exists as a result of landlord negligence and as a result you are suffering from a health condition because of the mold, contact Rasmussen & Miner to discuss your next steps. Our personal injury lawyer Salt Lake City UT victims rely on for guidance may be able to help you enforce your rental rights as well– call us today.