[south Carolina] Apartment Had Mold In Ceiling Following Leak — Leak Appears Fixed, But Mold/mildew Odor Persists And My Health Hasn't Improved. What Are My Rights?

Location: South Carolina

I'm dealing with an ongoing mold/mildew issue in my apartment following a bathroom leak and previous mold growth in the ceiling.

For some background:

• There was a leak in my bathroom that resulted in mold developing in the ceiling.
• The mold was significant enough that I was concerned about it spreading throughout the apartment, potentially through the HVAC/ventilation system.
• Management was notified, and repairs were made.
• At this point, there are no apparent signs of a continued bathroom leak, which I do appreciate.
• However, despite the apparent resolution of the leak, there is still a persistent mildew/mold-like smell throughout the apartment.
• My health has notably not improved, and I'm concerned about the continued indoor environmental conditions.
• I've made extensive efforts to clean the apartment, but the smell persists.

At this point, I strongly suspect the carpeting may be contributing to the odor. Given that the original mold was in the ceiling and there was a possibility of it spreading through the apartment's ventilation system, I'm concerned that the issue may extend beyond the original area of visible mold.

My concern is that management may consider the problem resolved simply because the leak has stopped and the visible mold has been addressed. However, the persistent odor suggests that there may be residual contamination, moisture, or affected materials that have not been properly evaluated.

What I'm asking management to do:

I intend to formally request:

1. A comprehensive assessment of the apartment, including the carpeting, underlying padding/subfloor, and HVAC/ventilation system.
2. Appropriate mold/moisture inspection and remediation by qualified professionals, rather than additional surface-level cleaning.
3. A determination of whether the carpeting or other materials need professional remediation or replacement.
4. A written action plan with specific next steps and a reasonable timeline.
5. Consistent communication and a designated point of contact.
6. Appropriate advance written notice before inspections, maintenance, or remediation work.

I want to be reasonable and acknowledge that the initial leak appears to have been addressed. However, I also don't believe that resolving the leak automatically means the apartment has been returned to a safe and habitable condition.

My questions:

• Under South Carolina landlord-tenant law, what obligations does a landlord have when mold develops following a plumbing leak?
• If the visible mold has been removed but there is still a persistent mold/mildew odor, can I formally require management to investigate the carpeting, HVAC system, and other potentially affected materials?
• Does the landlord have an obligation to investigate potential mold contamination beyond the original area of visible growth?
• What documentation should I obtain to establish that the apartment may still have an unresolved environmental issue?
• Would an independent mold assessment be advisable, and if so, who should pay for it?
• If management fails to adequately investigate or remediate the issue, what options do I have as a tenant?
• At what point would this potentially become a habitability issue under South Carolina law?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation, especially tenants who successfully navigated mold remediation disputes with apartment management.

I am not looking to create unnecessary conflict or jump straight to legal action. I want the apartment properly evaluated, the underlying issue addressed, and clear communication from management.

I also want to make sure I'm protecting my health and my rights as a tenant while handling this appropriately.

Thank you in advance for any insight or advice.