A fed-up Australian tenant has shared the bizarre excuse her landlord gave to avoid replacing mold-covered shower tiles.
Mai shared the frustrating exchange she had with her landlord after she notified them of the mold issue in a Reddit post on Tuesday.
“I moved into a new apartment a couple of weeks ago and noticed some mold in the shower area and on the bathroom counters,” she explained.
“I listed the issue on the property condition report two days after moving in.”
Mai shared a photo of her bathroom that revealed mold covering some of the floor tiles and shower walls.
She told her landlord that she suffers from multiple health problems and was concerned about the effect the mold would have on her immune system.
But the owner responded by stating that the mold was a “pre-existing” problem and that the discoloration was “commonly seen in older bathrooms.”
“Per our previous email, this will not be discussed currently, although possibly in the future, as it requires re-grouting and is currently partially embedded in the grout,” the homeowner’s email said.
The tenant uploaded a photo of the shower area showing mold on the floor and walls.
The owner identified mold as a “pre-existing” issue in this email (pictured).
However, Mai was left confused when the owner confirmed that they would not fix it.
Mai said she had hired a professional to examine the substance on the tiles and they confirmed it was mold.
Despite the independent review, the owner refused to acknowledge the problem and emailed again to “confirm” that the problem would not be fixed.
“I can confirm that this will not be repaired,” the owner wrote in his last email.
Mai said she was confused by the responses and why the issue hadn’t been fixed.
‘I don’t understand the change in responses, I think she got upset with me for ‘hurrying her up’? “This is the first time I have had a lease and I am not sure of my rights,” she wrote.
Several Australians shared similar experiences with landlords.
‘I had this one when I was in Canberra. “They told me it would be a while before they could send someone to fix it,” one person wrote.
“One time my landlord came to fix the hole next to the air conditioner himself because I complained so many times and no one wanted to fix it,” said another. .
Many Australians shared their own problems with landlords (pictured, a block of units in Perth)
Others urged Mai to contact her state’s Civil and Administrative Court to resolve the issue.
“Submit a repair request form as soon as possible, they have to fix it as these are minimum standards and you are not allowed to rent or renew a lease if the minimum standards are not met,” said one.
Landlords across Australia have a number of responsibilities, including addressing any health risks, such as mould, in a timely manner.
They must also maintain the structure and exterior of the property and ensure that all appliances are working.
Each state and territory has its own residential tenancies legislation and government agencies that enforce the rights and responsibilities of landlords.
Tenants can take legal action if the landlord does not comply with their request to remove mold from the property.