Mold questions and answers
Short answers to common questions about mold in New York City. If yours isn't here, call or send us a message.
These answers are general information about mold in New York City, not legal or medical advice. For your own building, go by your notice and the current rules. For health questions, please talk to a medical professional.
Mold removal
How much does mold removal cost in NYC?
It depends on how big each area is, which materials have to come out, and how much containment the job needs. You get a written proposal with a price for each area before any work starts, and nothing is done that isn't in it.
Is mold removal the same as mold remediation or mold abatement?
People use all three words for the same job. Remediation is the full process, not just scrubbing the surface: sealing off the area, filtering the air, removing what can't be saved, cleaning and drying what's left, and checking the work before anything is closed up.
What does professional mold remediation involve?
The work area is contained with plastic sheeting, HEPA air scrubbers or negative air keep spores from spreading, and damaged materials are removed in sealed bags. Remaining surfaces are HEPA vacuumed, cleaned and wiped, dried, and sealed where appropriate. Then a licensed assessor checks the work before anything is closed up.
Why does mold keep coming back after cleaning?
Because the moisture is still there. Mold needs water to grow, so cleaning without fixing the leak, condensation or high humidity behind it only buys time. That's why our reports name the likely moisture source for every area, and why indoor humidity above 60 percent is flagged.
Inspection and testing
How much does a mold inspection cost in NYC?
It depends on the size of the property, how many areas need checking and how many air or surface samples are taken, since each sample is analyzed by a lab. We tell you the price before we book, and quotes are free.
Do I need mold testing if I can already see mold?
Often not. Visible mold needs to be removed and its moisture source fixed whatever kind it is, and the EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary when growth is visible. Air testing is most useful when you smell mold but can't see it, when you need evidence for a landlord, buyer or insurer, or to confirm a cleanup worked.
Do I need to leave my home during the inspection?
No. Our inspection is non-invasive: we look, take moisture readings and thermal images and, if you choose, take air samples. Nothing is opened up or damaged.
What's in the mold inspection report?
A summary that says whether remediation is recommended and why, a table of findings by area with moisture readings and the likely moisture source, captioned photos, lab results if samples were taken, and recommended next steps with who should do each one. When remediation is needed, the report can include a mold remediation work plan.
Which areas do you serve?
All five boroughs of New York City: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. We're based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Rules and licensing
Are you licensed?
Yes. Our reports are signed by a New York State licensed mold assessor, NYS Department of Labor license 25-61YK1-SHMO. You can check any mold license with the Department of Labor.
What are the mold laws in New York?
Statewide, Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law requires licensed mold assessors and remediation contractors for mold projects larger than 10 square feet, with exceptions, including owners, managing agents and their employees working on the owner's own buildings. New York City adds Local Law 55, which makes owners of buildings with three or more apartments inspect for mold every year and fix the cause, and Local Law 61, which requires licensed professionals and filings with the Department of Environmental Protection for mold of 10 square feet or more in buildings with 10 or more apartments.
When does mold work need licensed professionals in NYC?
Under New York State law, mold assessment and remediation work on projects larger than 10 square feet must be done by companies licensed by the NYS Department of Labor. In New York City, Local Law 61 of 2018 adds that owners of buildings with 10 or more apartments must use a licensed mold assessor and a licensed mold remediator for mold of 10 square feet or more, and file with the Department of Environmental Protection.
What is a post-remediation clearance inspection?
After remediation, a licensed assessor checks that the work was done to the plan and that the areas are clean and dry. For buildings covered by NYC Local Law 61, the assessor also files the post-remediation assessment with the Department of Environmental Protection within 7 days of the work being finished.
Tenants
I rent in NYC and have mold in my apartment. Is my landlord responsible?
In buildings with three or more apartments, NYC Local Law 55 requires the owner to investigate and fix mold and the moisture that causes it, using safe work practices. If your landlord doesn't act, you can report it to 311, and HPD may inspect and issue a violation. A report from a licensed assessor gives you a written record of what's there.
Who do I call to report mold in my NYC apartment?
Tell your landlord first, in writing if you can, so there's a record. If the mold isn't fixed, or the repair work is done unsafely, call 311 or file a complaint online with HPD, which may inspect and issue a violation. If you or a child in the home has asthma, a doctor can request a free home inspection from the NYC Health Department.
How long does my landlord have to fix mold in NYC?
Under Local Law 55 owners must respond to complaints and fix the cause, and HPD advises fixing problems as soon as they're seen. Once HPD issues a mold violation, the deadline depends on its class, counted from the date the violation is served: 90 days for Class A (under 10 square feet in a room), 30 days for Class B (10 to 29 square feet) and 21 days for Class C (30 square feet or more).
Landlords
How do I clear an HPD mold violation?
Fix the moisture source, have the mold removed by the right licensed professionals for your building, then certify the correction to HPD before the deadline on your notice, with the supporting documents. For Class B and C mold violations in buildings with 10 or more apartments, HPD asks for affidavits from both the licensed assessor and the licensed remediator, and HPD may reinspect.
What does Local Law 55 require from landlords?
Owners of buildings with three or more apartments must inspect each occupied apartment and all common areas for mold and pests at least once a year and when tenants complain, fix the underlying moisture using safe work practices, clean vacant apartments before new tenants move in, and give tenants a notice about indoor allergens with the lease.
Does an apartment need a mold inspection before a new tenant moves in?
In NYC buildings with three or more apartments, Local Law 55 requires vacant apartments to be thoroughly cleaned and free of mold and pests before a new tenant moves in. HPD's guidance doesn't call for an outside inspector, but a turnover inspection by a licensed assessor gives you a dated, written record that the apartment was checked.
Health
Is black mold dangerous?
"Black mold" isn't one kind of mold, and color alone doesn't tell you what a mold is or how risky it is. Any indoor mold can cause problems for people who are sensitive, such as those with allergies or asthma, so visible growth should be removed and the moisture fixed. We're mold assessors, not doctors: if you think mold is affecting your health, please talk to a medical professional.
Still have a question?
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