Air quality and mold

Mold is a type of fungus that grows throughout the natural and built environment. Most people do not appear to be affected by everyday exposure to mold, however, for those who are affected, exposure may cause allergic reactions in the nose, eyes, throat or may bring on asthma-like signs and symptoms.

Role of the town health officer

The town health officer's role in a mold or air quality issue in rental housing is to determine whether the mold is a result of a housing code violation.

Under the Residential Rental Housing Code, every rental unit must be maintained to be free from the regular or periodic appearance of standing water or excessive moisture which may result in visible mold growth.

If mold is visible in rental housing, it may be an indication of standing water or excessive moisture, both of which are violations of the rental housing code.

Procedure for mold investigation

Once a town health officer has received a complaint about mold or air quality in a rental housing property, the town health officer should:

Inspect property. Mold is commonly found in the following areas:
- Basements or attics
- Flooded areas
- Bathrooms, kitchens, and closets
- Around refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and A/C units
- Mattresses and furniture
- Windowsills and caulking
- Carpeting
Inform the landlord of any findings of excessive moisture or standing water that violate the rental housing code.
Request voluntary compliance from the landlord to stop water intrusion and prioritize structural damage.
Re-investigate in 30 days.

For more information on mold and air quality see the Department of Health website. Additionally, the following materials contain useful information on mold and the town health officer's role in addressing air quality issues in rental housing: