Inman News Features (08/29/2002)

Perceptions and allegations about the dangers of indoor mold exposure have pitted insurance companies, which claim that mold growth is a homeowner's upkeep issue, against consumer insurance and health advocates, who contend that mold exposure has potentially life-threatening health effects and that insurers are not doing their best to honor consumer claims. Advocates are even accusing insurance firms of taking part in price-gouging tactics that could eventually hinder residential property sales in various parts of the country. The goal of the U.S. Toxic Mold Safety Act, championed by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), is to end this quarrel by using federally sponsored research to determine once and for all the effects of indoor mold and toxic mold exposure on human beings. In addition, the legislation calls for a new protocol for the prevention, detection, and remediation of indoor mold; and it includes yearly mold inspection standards for rental properties, among other provisions.
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