Comments Document

I have experienced the effects of living in a moldy environment 3 separate times, with the landlord each time having little to no appreciation for the severity of the health concern it presented to me as the tenant. The first time, in Charlottesville, a pipe burst in the upstairs apartment and a 2-3 foot wide hole was left to drip in our living room for weeks while black mold grew on the ceiling. Even after directly stating in my email to the landlord that my roommate and I were experiencing health concerns, it was not taken seriously. After this exposure, I developed a chronic illness called CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) which is an environmentally acquired illness from mold toxicity. This affects all systems of the body, not just the respiratory system, and the illness has disabling symptoms such as intense fatigue, brain fog, and vertigo. In Richmond I had two similar experiences, one of them leading to my roommate and I almost bringing the landlord to court after receiving no response from her for over a month regarding the two water damaged areas which were actively growing mold and continued to leak every time it rained. I have attached photos of this residence. This is a huge issue, especially for individuals with limited income who have few options when looking for a place to live. Low income renters often end up living in much older buildings that are falling apart and will have shoddy mold “remediation” if a problem does visibly present itself. I have seen first hand how mold issues will be lower on the list of priorities of the rental company who will take advantage of the fact that renters have no other option but to accept the conditions of their residence. People with fixed incomes are also more likely to lack the means to treat the incredibly complex health conditions that mold will present. Renters will continue to suffer and get swept under the table as long as no one recognizes this as a problem.

I have witnessed the extremely negative impact of mold first in the Fairfax County Public Schools where my husband was a teacher. So many schools have tried many times, unsucessfully, to "remediate" the mold, usually by painting over the mold. As a member of Virginia Organizing I have now seen the problem of mold impact the low income housing units in Waynesboro. One renter paid for her own mold inspection and the results were shocking. The epidemic of mold is threatening both the renters and the property owners, who cannot afford to remediate the problem once it has gotten past a certain point. The cost of the medical fallout will also be enormous. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this problem.

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

Mold is well-established as a health hazard in buildings, including homes. Low income renters are currently at the mercy of their landlords if and when they find mold in their rental, since there is no easy legal protection available to them. HB 1270 would afford a clear legal path to tenants, rather than being obliged to go to court themselves to oblige their landlords to establish a healthy living environment for their families.

We go to people’s houses in the NRV and the biggest issue that comes up at door after door is mold. “Get it out of our homes!” people beg. We asked them whether their landlords do anything about it and they say no. Landlords either ignore the problem or spray a little bleach on it and claim they’ve handled it, which they haven’t. HB1270 will make it so that building inspectors can be brought in to hold landlords accountable. They’ll come and tell landlords how exactly to mitigate mold properly so that it won’t keep coming back and causing health problems in folks of all ages. My cousins had to move house back in the day because mold hurt my cousin’s lungs so badly. His breathing and asthma were affected for years after. You have the power to protect people from this kind of dangerous mold. Please support HB1270 and get the mold out of NRV homes – so many people will thank you for it.

Mold can affect the lungs, especially in older people and children who have weaker immune systems. This is why it's important to pass this bill. And no one should have to look at mold in their home. It's not pretty. And when it gets painted over, it seeps right back through.

Renters should not have to live with mold. When landlords don't properly remediate mold in rental housing, renters are faced with the decision to either break their lease, which can be a messy process and wind up in court, or to file a tenant's assertion, if they have the knowledge and means to do so. In this tight housing market, breaking a lease is not a great option. Over and over, we hear stories locally and in the media about landlords not responding to tenants' requests for repairs, particularly around mold. Regulating mold in the building code is important, because it allows local governments to step in and hold landlords accountable through building inspections.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee