Transcript
At Lafayette’s Himbola Manor Apartments, residents say mold is harming their health. Louisiana law says landlords have an obligation to make homes liveable, including dealing with mold.
Hey. It’s Elliot Wade, your Community Reporter here at The Current.
This is Louisiana. Mold is everywhere. A humid climate and weather events like hurricanes and floods make it common. Medical experts say that living in a home with persistent mold can lead to chronic respiratory issues.
Himbola residents say mold has been a problem that their landlord won’t solve, among others.
So what can you do if you find yourself in a similar situation? You have some options.
Your landlord has a legal obligation to make necessary repairs to keep your home liveable under Louisiana Civil Code art. 2691, except for repairs that your lease says you’re responsible for.
If your landlord refuses to make repairs that they can make, you have three options:
- Do the repair yourself and charge the landlord
- Get out of your lease early
- Sue for damages
If your landlord fails to make the necessary repairs in a reasonable amount of time, Louisiana law says you can make repairs yourself and deduct the cost from your rent, provided you give your landlord written notice of the need for necessary repairs.
Then, you can save the receipt and deduct it from your next month’s rent.
Breaking your lease is easier said than done: moving costs add up quickly, and you’d still need to find new housing in a tight market. Suing your landlord is also costly, especially because you’d likely need a private attorney.
In cases where these might be better options, there may be some neighbors that can help.
Lafayette organizers are establishing a chapter of Residents Organized for Housing Louisiana (ROHLA) to advocate for “housing affordability and resilience at local, regional, and state levels”.
So, what are your thoughts on this story? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time, I’m Elliot Wade and this is Lafayette.