What should I do?

[B. Hester]

We bought a 28 x 42 in 98'. This past weekened our ninth month old fell through a wall in the master bedroom. Our home is falling apart literally. When the fell we noticed a large amount of condensation, molds and mildew beteen the walls. We called the insrance company only to findout that it wasn't set up properly and now noone wants to fix it or replace it. We found out today that the entire house has been affected because of a one inch gap fom the ceiling to the floor that was covered on the inside so you couldn't see it. I don't know what to do. I can't stay in the house because I am highly allergic to mold. My family is at risk for fire hazards, respiratory problems, and the walls aren't safe to touch. I have no place elseto go. THis has been our home for four years. I have a three year od with Cerebral Palsey that has a low immune system. And a ninth mnth old. My husband can only do so much.

[rmurray]

Gee....you did not notice the soft crumbling sheetrock before your 9 month old crushed the wall?...

There is a moisture problem...and you might have hit the cause on the head...There is much unscientific hype out there about mold right now...but your family might well have special consideration...If you were highly alergic to mold you would have noticed its presence much earlier...

You have to do what you feel is right for your family first...If all is as you say...you need to leave the home post haste,,,,

HUD requires that all homes be set to the code...If the dealer is still in business and the ground has not settled...you still have a claim....HUD violations have nothing to do with warranty time constraints...

Call your state agency responsible for HUD monitoring..Go to the yellow pages here on this web site and find the agency from your state...

[Jon]

B. Hester:
Did the insurance company inspect your home before determining it was improperly set? If not, call them again. Insurance companies have learned a new "scape-goat," which is "wrongful setup." While the setup may be the culprit, only an on-site inspection would disclose that fact.
Also, the health problems associated with molds are real. Certain molds emit toxins. A few notable cases have seen owners of apartment buildings sued for big money because of mold related ailments. Before touching or disturbing the molds, contact your local health department for advice regarding the identification and removal of them.
Then contact a qualified attorney to help you sort through the mess, decide if an entity is at fault, and if so, the name of that entity.

[rmurray]

I have been following this type of board on the net for 5 years and only recently have you seen any mention of mold causing sickness...Of the 2000 species of mold only 1 has been proven to effect any humans negatively..Then only in very high concentrations...The hype comes from attorneys looking for a deep pocket and unsophistocated juries....Read these two links and then go to the CDC web site and do your own information search...

From HealthCentral.com
Dr, Dean Edell on mold.."
Can My House Be Full Of Toxic Mold? "

http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/dea ... m?id=49609

Dr. Dean Edell on attorneys and mold before you ever heard of this...

"Lawyers Set Their Sights On Mold Litigation
October 10, 2000 "
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/dea ... m?id=42585

CDC statement

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm

[Jon]

While the reference links you provided are appreciated, I really don't want to debate the subject of molds. I don't claim to be an expert in the matter, though I suspect the issue should not be treated cavalierly. My offering of advice was based on information acquired during my work with manufactured homes and property management.
In particular, property management newsletters have urged property owners to be vigilant for water leaks that may cause or lead to mold growth.
You say ailments caused by molds are mostly attorney hype. Perhaps that view will be proven correct in time. Then again, maybe not. As things stand now, property owners have been alerted to deal quickly with mold of any type. Evidently substantial monetary settlements/awards have been given in cases of mold-related sickness. This should cause some amount of concern because there seems to have been sufficent evidence to convince owners/insurance companies/courts that mold-initiated ailments are real enough. Additionally, some folks with allergies may have an increased sensitivity to mold.
Therefore, the suggestion that guidance be sought from the local health department was intended to be helpful to the person asking the question. Moreover, the suggestion appears to be reasonable and prudent under the circumstances.
Anyway, thanks for your comments.