How to Handle Mould in Your Rental Property

Is it the landlord's responsibility or yours?

The short answer depends on what is causing the mould.

Landlord responsibility: Mould caused by structural issues — leaks in the roof, walls, or plumbing, inadequate ventilation built into the property design, rising damp, or failure to maintain gutters and drainage — is the landlord's responsibility to fix.

Tenant responsibility: Mould caused by lifestyle factors — consistently leaving windows closed in a bathroom with no exhaust fan, drying clothes inside without ventilation, or failing to wipe down surfaces — may be attributed to the tenant.

In practice, most mould problems have a structural component, and tenants should not accept sole responsibility without evidence of what caused it.

Notify your landlord in writing immediately

As soon as you discover mould, notify your landlord or property manager in writing — email is ideal. Include:

• The location and approximate size of the mould • Dated photographs • Any information about potential causes you have noticed (damp walls, a leaking window, condensation) • A request for an inspection and remediation plan

The written notification protects you in two ways: it creates a dated record that you reported the problem, and it starts the clock on the landlord's obligation to respond.

Urgent vs non-urgent mould situations

Not all mould is equal. Black mould covering a large area, mould in a bedroom or living space, or mould accompanied by a leak or water damage is generally considered an urgent repair — meaning the landlord must act quickly, often within 24 hours under state tenancy legislation.

Surface mould in a bathroom that is otherwise dry and structurally sound is typically a non-urgent repair, requiring action within a reasonable timeframe after written notice.

If the landlord ignores your request

If your landlord does not respond to your written request within the appropriate timeframe, you can apply to your state tenancy tribunal for a repair order. The tribunal can require the landlord to carry out specific remediation work by a set date and may award compensation if the mould has damaged your belongings or caused health issues.

For urgent repairs, most states allow tenants to arrange emergency remediation themselves and recover the cost from the landlord, up to a legislated limit.

When mould makes a property unliveable

In extreme cases — extensive black mould affecting multiple rooms, mould that has caused serious respiratory symptoms, or mould arising from a structural defect the landlord refuses to address — the property may be considered unfit for habitation. In most states this gives you grounds to terminate the tenancy without penalty and potentially claim compensation.

This is a significant step and the threshold is high. Contact your state tenancy authority or a community legal centre before taking this action.