Living with mould can cause health problems said Dr. Muna ar-Rushdi, Medical Officer of Health at Labrador-Grenfell Health.
"Mould is a natural part of our environment. Mould spores are in the air everywhere, so we live with it," she said.
She said it is when mould accumulates in people's working environment or home that it can cause problems.
Stanley Oliver is the director of the Labrador Friendship Centre and sits on the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Community Advisory Board. He said in the 2005 to 2006 meeting (when the board was known as the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Homeless Committee), stakeholders were brought together to discuss housing issues in the community.
Mr. Oliver said, "It was a concern there are rental units in Happy Valley-Goose Bay that are probably not up to the health standard people would like."
He said he wasn't sure if anything had been done in the years since the concern was first raised to fix the issue.
The Residential Tenancies Act is the statute that governs the legal obligations of the landlord and tenant in a rental agreement.
According to the Act, the landlord has a legal obligation to "maintain a premises in a state fit for habitation."
The landlord must "comply with a statutory enactment or law respecting health, safety or housing."
If the landlord fails to do so, after the tenant has made a written request, the tenant has the right to terminate the rental agreement and move out immediately.
Dr. ar-Rushdi said mould could put people's health at risk, depending on a person's age and current health condition and the extent of the mould problem.
She said some people are actually allergic to mould and can have reactions when exposed to it, like watery eyes, a runny nose and wheezing.
"Infants are more susceptible to mould. They're young and their respiratory systems are still developing."
She also said that children often develop childhood asthma and it can be difficult to know if mould is causing any respiratory and allergy reactions or whether it's just worsening a pre-existing condition.
She added that people without sensitivities to mould could live with a moderate degree of mould in their homes without suffering any ill effects.
However, she said people without sensitivities to mould can develop them over time through prolonged exposure.
She said it's normal for people to have at least some mould in their households, especially in the bathroom or kitchen where mould's ideal living conditions can be found.
Dr. ar-Rushdi said it is possible to have homes evaluated for mould growth.
She said professionals test the air quality of your home and can remove mould if necessary.
On the Provincial Government's Department of Government Services website, several forms are available for tenants to print off and fill out to fulfill the requirements of written requests or notices.
The tenant, as stated in the Act, also has responsibilities in keeping the rental unit fit for habitation and is responsible for any needed repairs that are the result of the tenant or guests of the tenant.
According to the Act, failing to comply with any of the orders in the Act makes the tenant or landlord guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction for a maximum fine of $400, and if payment is not made, four months in prison.
The Act also states that being convicted under the Act does not mean the tenant or landlord is protected from further prosecution: "the continuance of...failure to comply for each day of part of the day constitutes a separate offence."
reporter@thelabradorian.ca
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