I recently moved to Taiwan and I have been in a rental apartment for 3 weeks. I’m in Kaohsiung if that makes a difference.
I have noticed a problem over the last week in that my couch has been getting mold on it.
I looked in the vent of the airconditioning unit and they are covered in black mold. I’m furious. I have been breathing this in since arriving.
What are my options with this. The landlady and real estate agent have not only overcharged me (not by much, but more than a Taiwanese person would pay) and have given me an apartment with a busted washing machine already.
This is the latest problem and a much more serious one.
I’m going to request that the units be replaced. I imagine this is going to be met with resistance as that is expensive. Further, the couch will have to be replaced. I’m hoping that the mold has spread to all of my belongings.
What are my options here?
Is it likely that this problem will be rectified or will it just be treated as a non issue with cheap repairmen coming in to a crap job in fixing it.
Is there some sort of tenancy agency or something that protects tenants against things that are hazardous to their health?
If there isn’t anything to be done, is it possible to get my bond back and to leave?
If worst came to worst, could I just cut and run and get another apartment or would this be met with legal issues?
I’ve turned off the AC and I don’t plan on putting it back on.
Well done for noticing the AC mould , it took me a year to figure out we had a problem!
Good news is there are professional cleaners of AC in Taiwan for just this problem, see if you can negotiate with landlord to cover some cost or not. It’s not necessary to replace the unit.
Open your AC. Take out the filter units. Place them in the shower and hose down with hot water. Then spray with detergent spray (mould killer bathroom cleaner) and wait, then hose again. While they dry, clean inside of unit with cloth and bleach or mould killer. replace filters. Then run your AC to dry it out. You may wish to wear plastic gloves and a face mask.
Do this annually. Simple, and it’s probably your job anyway, and saves a lot of aggression between you an a typical uncooperative Taiwan landlord.
the AC keeps the humidity down so that mould does not grow (or at least less). Yes, if the AC is mouldy it is also spreading spores around, which may land on your couch, but the AC is not the only source of mould spores and it’s not necessarily linked directly.
Talk to the agent first. Make a list of what needs to be repaired. That is his job. He gets a commision for handling these things.
Yes, they will overcharge you if you don’t speak Chinese. In the contract you signed it should state what things are in the house and in what state. That is why we tell people to always bring witnesses as to te state of things before/when they sign. Of course, no one thinks about testing the washing machine, so there may be soe leeway there… if the landlord is “nice”.
Is it likely that this problem will be rectified or will it just be treated as a non issue with cheap repairmen coming in to a crap job in fixing it.
Most landlords will get the cheapest repairmen possible. To get around this, get the service yourself and ask for reinboursement.
Is there some sort of tenancy agency or something that protects tenants against things that are hazardous to their health?
Technically speaking, yes. However, mold is so ubiquitous that most people here do not regard it as a serious health hazard. What floor are you on BTW? As said your best defense against mold is cleaning and running the dehumidifier 24/7.
If there isn’t anything to be done, is it possible to get my bond back and to leave?
Not really. Unless your landlord is very nice. I mean, if the place falls apart, if a wall splits, maybe, but mold, nope. You could try talking to them about how dissapointe dyou are about the state of things but it would require very diplomatic negotiations.
If worst came to worst, could I just cut and run and get another apartment or would this be met with legal issues?
You better inform them you are leaving and get as many witnesses -pictures as to the state of things when you leave. It is not as much legal issues as they could charge you with destruction of property or other made up charges, or if something goes missing. They could blame you for the mold.