Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

You should document the black mold as best as you can. Hopefully, you kept the move-in checklist to show that when you moved in, there was no black mold. From there, if you can, videotape the unit and have a witness or narrator describe what is being filmed. Use the front page of the Seattle Times from the day you film to establish that the damage was not present before that date.

From there, you need to call your landlord and then WRITE a letter to your landlord and mail it by certified mail, reciting what you just explained verbally. Explain what you have explained here, and demand that the landlord immediately send someone out to inspect and repair the problem.

If your landlord does not immediately take action, then you must decide whether to deal with the situation yourself, or give notice and move out.

Note, to the extent you can document medical injuries as a direct result of the black mold, you may have a claim against your landlord for the damages incurred. Before I go into the details of all that, let me just say that you ought to consult a personal injury attorney who deals with black mold cases specifically to see what, if anything can be done.

Best of luck!