Toxic Mold Through Entire Rental Property And Everything I Own. What Liability Does The Owner/management Company Have?

Location: Maryland.

Basically the title. I live in Maryland and moved into a new rental home with two roommates eight weeks ago. The third roommate (in a basement room) moved into three weeks ago.

I’ve been horribly sick since moving into (I have some chronic illnesses and a mold allergy) but this was beyond anything like my normal. Within a week of moving into, basement roommate noticed stuff kept “growing” over her belongings. It kept coming back despite bleaching/cleaning it. Finally she checked the vents and we found black mold through the entire HVAC system, the light switches, and the drywall.

In the three days since, we’ve had three mold inspectors coming out. All of them were staying it was really bad toxic mold and the last one (who was actually sent to clean the mold) said it wasn’t possible to clean and the entire place would have to be ripped apart and we shouldn’t take anything we own with us bc it will spread.

My doctor also saw me and confirmed she believed my symptoms are from mold exposure and my cats have been sick. I’m getting a blood culture done and some swabs and tests too.

Owner is obviously panicking. Claims no knowledge of any mold issues and that this just “happened.” Seems genuinely shocked and it was his wife’s house. He has a management company but since the term “total loss came into play” they now want extra tests done to “confirm” the mold, despite three inspectors telling them the same thing.

My cats and I are in a hotel right now (that i really can’t afford). Owner basically said he’s gonna release us from the lease. Both of them were like “well don’t you have renters insurance? I do (i bundle through the car insurance) but my roommates and I guess me also have the “mandatory” renters insurance through the renters portal. But we aren’t at fault bc the house isn’t habitable?

Basically, who has to pay for everything we’re about to lose? The hotels and last minutes stays? The health side effects and the damage? is there any way to recoup our rent? and is it even worth trying to find a lawyer/would we have a case if they owner truly didn’t know?

Basically the title. I live in Maryland and moved into a new rental home with two roommates eight weeks ago. The third roommate (in a basement room) moved into three weeks ago.

I’ve been horribly sick since moving into (I have some chronic illnesses and a mold allergy) but this was beyond anything like my normal. Within a week of moving into, basement roommate noticed stuff kept “growing” over her belongings. It kept coming back despite bleaching/cleaning it. Finally she checked the vents and we found black mold through the entire HVAC system, the light switches, and the drywall.

In the three days since, we’ve had three mold inspectors coming out. All of them were staying it was really bad and the last one (who was actually sent to clean the mold) said it wasn’t possible to clean and the entire place would have to be ripped apart and we shouldn’t take anything we own with us bc it will spread.

My doctor also saw me and confirmed she believed my symptoms are from mold exposure and my cats have been sick. I’m getting a blood culture done and some swabs and tests too.

Owner is obviously panicking. Claims no knowledge of any mold issues and that this just “happened.” Seems genuinely shocked and it was his wife’s house. He has a management company but since the term “total loss came into play” they now want extra tests done to “confirm” the mold, despite three inspectors telling them the same thing.

My cats and I are in a hotel right now (that i really can’t afford). Owner basically said he’s gonna release us from the lease. Both of them were like “well don’t you have renters insurance? I do (i bundle through the car insurance) but my roommates and I guess me also have the “mandatory” renters insurance through the renters portal. But we aren’t at fault bc the house isn’t habitable?

Basically, do we have a case here to recoup losses? From my reading, it seems mold cases are difficult but we’re about to be out thousands