Video: Trussville family settles with HUD over mold infestation
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Trussville neighbor's mold problem solved
A Trussville family ousted from their home six months ago because of a neighbor's mold problem finally has a resolution.
Lynne Jones, Producer
Jamey Bryan, Photographer/Editor
Published: May 30, 2009
A Trussville family ousted from their home because of a mold problem has resolved their case with the Federal Government.
Leslieanne Johannsen, her husband and two young children had to move out of their townhome on New Year’s Day when they discovered a roof leak in the adjoining unit had caused mold to spread like wildfire into their walls, floors as well as the heating and cooling vents.
That adjoining unit had become the property of the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development after the home went into foreclosure in the fall of 2008.
Local contractors had been handling the situation for HUD. But the Johannsens were not able to get a satisfactory response.
Once NBC13HD became involved, officials from the Birmingham HUD office took made their first visit to the home to get a first-hand look at the damage.
The Johannsens have now settled with the government.
HUD is paying for the mold removal, the rebuild, and reimbursed them for six months of mortgage and utility payments they had to make when they couldn’t live in their home.
But the Johannsens believe HUD got off easy. “It was very bittersweet. The only reason we accepted their offer is because we wanted to get on with our lives. We’ve suffered enough, my children have suffered enough. Just no more phone calls, emails no more fighting with them or arguing with them. It was not what we were looking for, we’re pretty disappointed actually. But it was either that or take them to court. And no one wants to do that,“ said Leslieanne Johannsen.
The family said getting HUD to accept responsibility took too long.
The Johannsens said the problem could’ve been corrected within a month or so, which also would have lessened the severity of the mold infestation.
In an e-mail HUD told NBC13HD, “The various aspects of work required to this unit i.e., the need for specialized professionals, contract and regulatory requirements and coordination of activity among the many parties, contributed to the delay. The process took longer than we would have liked, but it was necessary to bring about quality results.“
Leslieanne Johannsen says the rebuild work should begin any day and they hope to be able to move back into their home in a month or so.
How it all started: watch Lisa Crane’s original Fact Finder report here.
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Reader Reactions
The Johannsens, and anyone else with mold concerns, could benefit greatly by checking out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold.
http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/79544
It seems like it would make traditional remediation projects easier and more effective, as well as creating a healthier environment in which to live.
In one instance, 10,667 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a per cubic meter area. After diffusing Thieves essential oil for forty-eight hours, Dr Close retested. Only thirteen stchybotrys remained. Similarly, 75,000 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a sample of sheetrock. After seventy-two hours of diffusing, no stachybotrys mold spores remained. (Stachybotrys has a reputation for being the most toxic mold.)
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