Mold Causing Problems In South Charlotte Condo
 

 
UPDATED: 5:54 pm EDT May 1, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A property management company said it is waiting on bids to overhaul a vacant condo in south Charlotte that was overtaken by mold.

That comes after a neighbor called Whistleblower 9 about the problem.

James Johnson led the way into the empty condo next to his. The problem could be seen, and smelled, right away.
"Mold is in every room, the ceiling... the kitchen is destroyed," Johnson said.

Johnson told Eyewitness News the mold moved in after the owner of the condo defaulted on his loan and moved out of the Quail Run Condominiums six months ago.

Then came the first of three bad leaks, with water ankle-deep at times. The water brought the mold that's been steadily growing for months. The situation got so bad that Johnson's sister, who was living in the unit next door, moved out.

"My sister was complaining about smells. It bothered her health. I cannot rent it out and put somebody in there with a health problem," Johnson said.

The Health Department said it does not have the authority to make anyone clean up the mess.

"There are no standards for mold because it's ubiquitous. It's everywhere," explained Steve Wood with the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

Wood said that since every home has some mold, states and counties can not police it. That's why Johnson went to the condominium's homeowners' association and asked them to fix it.

But that was six months ago, and he is still waiting.

"I'd like them to come in and clean this mold up because it's definitely a health problem" Johnson said.

Cheryl Davis, the president of the homeowners' association said they went in after the first leak, took up the carpet and ripped out the wallboard along the floor. But two other leaks since then, one in the ceiling and one in the kitchen, have left the unit in the shape it is in now. Davis said the problem now is that the Bank of America has foreclosed on the condo and changed the locks.

"They have been notified that they have to provide us with a key to go in and take care of it, or they need to take care of it immediately," Davis explained.

Eyewitness News was told the bank has hired a management company to get rid of the mold once and for all.
Mecklenburg County's Environmental Health Department does not inspect for mold.
 
 
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