11/13/08

Toledo, Ohio - You're supposed to feel safe in your own home. One downtown Toledo resident says he simply can't, and the reason is mold.

James Friend says it's growing inside his apartment in the Commodore Perry building on Jefferson. He's complained to management, but it's still there.

"This is my kitchen, and that is my mold," Friend tells Problem Solver Mika Highsmith.

It may not look much, but it's a big deal to James who says this mold is driving him up the wall. It's not just because of the health hazards, though he says, "It's making me sick basically." It's also not the first time the mold appeared. "This is the area that was done two or three years ago, and it was really never finished," Friend explains.

Friend says he's complained to management on numerous occasions. "I've told her three to four times in the last month." Friend says he was told it would be fixed in two to three days.

But it's still here, and it's not his fault. He tells us the mold is from leaking pipes.

Friend refuses to pay, but he believes in our Problem Solver. "I want it fixed, and I think you'll do it for me," he says.

Mika spoke with the property owner in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. She says she will have maintenance fix the problem tonight.

That's great news for Friend. If you are facing a similar issue, be sure to put your request to the manager in writing. If you don't get a response in a reasonable amount of time, Mika's best advice is to put your rent in an escrow account.