Mold in a home you rent

About a quarter of households in the Ranson ZIP code rent (27% in the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey). If you are one of them, this is the page for you.

What the law asks of a West Virginia landlord

West Virginia Code 37-6-30 requires a residential landlord to deliver a rental "in a fit and habitable condition" and to keep it that way, to make the repairs needed for that, and to keep plumbing, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning facilities in good working order — unless the damage came mainly from a lack of reasonable care by the tenant or their guests.

The statute does not mention mold by name. What it does cover is most of what causes it: leaking plumbing, a failed exhaust fan, a roof or gutter letting water in.

How to report it

1. Photograph it with something for scale — a ruler, a tape, a light switch.
2. Write it down and send it: where it is, roughly how large, when you first saw it, and any leak or dampness you think is behind it. Email or a dated letter both work; keep a copy.
3. Describe the water, not just the stain. A dripping trap under the sink or a ceiling stain under a bathroom gives the landlord something to fix, which is what stops the growth from coming back.
4. Hold off on bleach and paint. EPA advises against painting or caulking over mold, and a scrubbed or painted patch makes it harder to show what was there.

EPA's own advice for renters is the same: report plumbing leaks and moisture problems to the building owner or manager right away, and if persistent water problems are not addressed, contact local, state or federal health or housing authorities.

If you own the house and rent it out

Then the work is yours to arrange, and the rest of this site is written for you. Start with the ten square foot line or what to check before hiring.

This page is general information, not legal advice. A lease and the facts of a particular building can change what applies.