Who Is Responsible for Mold Damage in a Building?
Generally, the owner of a building is considered to be responsible for the building. However, many homeowners carry insurance to help protect their financial investment in their home and to share the liability in the event of damage to the home. In recent years, mold has become a “hot button” in the insurance industry. If you have not recently reviewed your homeowner’s insurance, you may be surprised at how mold damage is treated. Many insurance companies now specifically exclude all claims that relate in any way to mold, mildew, or fungus. Some will pay some specified expenses for mold or fungus removal, with a pre-determined limit of liability or dollar amount, only if the claim is part of a claim for water damage. In evaluating mold related claims, the insurance industry considers very carefully two factors: • Mold grows quickly. As previously stated, wet building materials will likely get mold within 24-48 hours. • If wet building materials, water leaks, water damage, or other mois
