Mould is the New Asbestos - Landlords Beware!

Toxic mould could inspire American style law suits, according to a recent article published in 'Property Week'.

The article reports that lawyers in the US have been inundated with lawsuits against property managers, contractors, landlords and local authorities who own buildings which contain mould.

Mould is claimed to trigger asthma, skin rashes, chronic fatigue and even in the most extreme cases, brain damage. Dianne White, Managing Director of air cleaning giant Essa EU believes that the UK will soon follow the trend across the Atlantic and landlords can expect to have hefty lawsuits on their hands if the problem is not tackled.

White is quoted as saying "The blame and claim culture is slowly seeping into the UK and personal injury claims are on the up. Landlords, contractors, local authorities and property managers have a personal duty to ensure the safety of their tenants. This means ensuring that their buildings are mould free."

source: Green Building Press (Last Updated: Wednesday 16 Feb, 2005)

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