When Does a Property Wwner Have to Hire a Mold Assessor or Mold Remediation Contractor? 

As part of a home inspection, mold-like substances that are noticed will be identified in the report after a non-invasive visual investigation. As an individual purchasing a home, you would want to be aware of the mold and could ask the seller to remedy the situation; as the seller of a home, potential buyers may ask that the mold be removed before agreeing to buy the house.

The New York State Department of Labor does not require you to clean up mold on your property. However, if you decide to have someone assess and remediate an area of mold that is larger than 10 square feet of mold, you must use a licensed mold professional to do the work.

You must first have a Mold Assessor do a more thorough and invasive inspection and complete a Mold Remediation Plan. You will then hire a Mold Remediation Contractor to do the work outlined in the plan. The mold assessor will perform the initial visual inspection and assessment of the property for mold growth. This may include the use of a moisture meter and, in rare cases, mold sampling. The assessor will identify the underlying source of moisture causing the mold growth (when possible) and educate the property owner on mold in general.

The assessor will develop a Mold Remediation Plan. This plan will identify: the source of the moisture causing mold growth, how to remedy the moisture issue, the mold remediation methods to be used for cleanup, and the criteria that must be met to consider the complete cleanup. The assessor will perform a post-remediation assessment to confirm the remediation was successful and develop a written passed clearance report or final status report.