Is mould in a BC house a problem, and does a seller have to disclose it?

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Mould grows where moisture stays, so the leak or damp matters more than the stain; Health Canada advises against air testing, and a seller who knows of a hidden defect must disclose it. Mould is a sign of water: a roof, plumbing or foundation leak, condensation, or a bathroom or kitchen without a working fan. Cleaning a patch without fixing the moisture lets it grow back, so for a buyer the question is where the water comes from and what it has already damaged. Look up the address or PID on PlaceDossier to see the record for that lot. Why it matters: People in damp or mouldy homes are more likely to have eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing and worse asthma; infants, children, seniors, pregnant people and people with breathing conditions are at greater risk (Health Canada). Where the moisture comes from: Showering, cooking and laundry without a working, vented exhaust fan; water coming in through gaps in the foundation, walls, roof, windows or doors; plumbing leaks; condensation on cold surfaces such as windows; flooding; and poor ventilation (Health Canada). Health Canada names indoor cannabis growing among the sources too: see grow-ops. Testing: Health Canada does not recommend testing the air for mould. A professional may suggest a spore test where problems stay unexplained, such as after a flood or a roof or pipe leak (Health Canada). How big a patch: A small area is one square metre or less, in no more than three patches, and can usually be cleaned with care. A medium area is more than three patches, each under a square metre and less than three square metres in all: most can be cleaned without a professional, after an assessment. A single patch over three square metres is large, and needs an expert's assessment and cleanup (Health Canada). When to call a professional: Health Canada also advises a professional when mould comes back after cleaning (the moisture hasn't been fixed), when flood or leak water carried sewage or chemicals, when mould is suspected inside walls or above ceilings, when water reached the wall or ceiling cavities and can't be dried, or when people's symptoms go on. Cleaning a small patch: Scrub washable surfaces with an unscented soap solution and dry them quickly; don't use bleach, and don't soak drywall. Painting over mould doesn't kill it or stop it growing back (Health Canada). What a seller must say: A seller who knows of a hidden defect that makes the home dangerous or unfit to live in must disclose it, and BCFSA asks sellers to disclose every known material latent defect in writing before the contract is signed; the seller's agent must disclose one it knows of (Real Estate Services Rules s. 59; see what a seller must disclose). Mould or water damage hidden in a wall can be such a defect (our reading). Mould you can see is for the buyer and their inspector to find. The inspection: A home inspection is of what the inspector can see, and the contract must say whether it inspects for mould (Home Inspector Licensing Regulation s. 12; see home inspections). Moisture stains, a musty smell, condensation on windows and soft or swollen materials are what to point out to the inspector (our reading). What it means for a buyer: Find the source before the stain: ask about leaks and floods, and have the inspector look at the roof, the plumbing, the foundation and the fans. Ask your insurer whether it covers mould damage and what it needs to know, and price a professional's assessment into a house with large or hidden mould.

Is mould in a BC house a problem, and does a seller have to disclose it?

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Before you buy: who to ask