The Sydney real estate agent is outraged by emailing tenants about how to prevent mold, but is his advice fair enough?
- Sydney residents shuddering at the start of the city’s coldest winter in three decades
- Real Estate Owners Tell Tenants To Open Windows Regularly In Winter To Avoid Mold
- Thousands of homes are suffering from mold as a result of recent heavy rains and flooding
By Kylie Stevens for Daily Mail Australia
Posted: 03:52, 10 June 2022 | Updated: 5:02 AM, June 10, 2022
A real estate agency has told hundreds of tenants to open their windows and let in fresh air to help stop mold growth as Australia’s largest city shakes due to the icy weather.
Sydney has experienced its coldest winter start in three decades, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 6ºC on Friday morning, dropping to 1ºC in the west of the city.
As the struggle to stay warm extends into the long weekend, real estate agency CobdenHayson sent tenants a list of tips to help them “get ready for the winter season.” .
In the email, obtained by The Guardian Australia, the agency said Sydney’s homes were “designed to have windows open regularly” to help prevent the health hazard of mold.
Homes along Australia’s east coast are battling a mold epidemic after the wettest year in the country’s history.
The email, sent by the agency’s Marrickville branch in the West Midlands of Sydney, also reminded tenants that managing the mold was their responsibility.
Sydney real estate agency urges tenants to open windows during winter to prevent mold
“As winter approaches, residents are often reluctant to open windows, but this is critical to ensuring adequate ventilation,” the email said.
‘If possible, leave a window slightly open during the day.
“Mold is not always a sign of a leak or problem, it is largely attributed to lack of ventilation and can manifest itself in humid environments, and then spreads quickly if left untreated. Clean up as soon as possible. not only will it improve your health, it will help you with the continuous management of the mold “.
CobdenHayson Marrickville said the email to tenants was a directive from headquarters.
“The email refers to general recommendations, if the tenant decides to accept these general recommendations, it is entirely at their discretion,” the agency said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted CobdenHayson headquarters for comment.
Households have been battling mold since Australia was flooded by a downpour for most of 2022.
From the backs of photo frames and wall-mounted headboards to hand-woven baskets and storage bins, Australians have spent months battling dangerous growth and discovering it in hard-to-spot areas.
Sydney tenants have been asked to let in fresh air during the start of the coldest winter in decades
Tenants and landlords have obligations and responsibilities in relation to mold management in homes, according to the NSW Tenants Union.
Tenants must keep the premises “reasonably” clean, notify the real estate agent or owner of any mold damage, and take reasonable steps to prevent damage.
The landlord must comply with the “housing adaptation” rules, which include adequate ventilation, plumbing, and drainage.
They must ensure that the floors, ceilings, walls and supporting structures are not subject to moisture, that the roof, ceilings and windows do not allow water to enter the home and to keep the property in a “reasonable” repair.
The recent drop in temperature has also led to a rise in the disease, as Australia prepares for its worst flu season in three years.
NSW Tenants Union Leo Patterson Ross says tenants should not be expected to be exposed to too cold an environment by opening a window to prevent mold build-up.
Hev added that mold damage larger than the size of a plate is a likely indicator of a structural problem, which is the responsibility of the owner.
Both tenants and landlords have an obligation to prevent the build-up of mold after heavy rains and recent flooding off the east coast of Australia.
Why and where does mold grow?
In general, if you can see or smell the mold, you should clean and remove the mold immediately, as the mold can damage the surfaces on which it grows. The more it grows, the more damage it can cause.
Mold only grows when there is enough moisture. When mold appears, the first task is to try to establish where the moisture is coming from.
Parts of a house that get wet or poorly ventilated are prone to mold growth, such as:
Avoid conditions that encourage mold growth, using heat, insulation, and ventilation. The cheapest and easiest way to reduce humidity and humidity levels is to ventilate a room by opening a door or window. Use exhaust fans when available.
Source: Better Health Victoria