Mold Remediation in Clarkston, GA

Clarkston at a glance

Clarkston was incorporated in 1882 as the Town of Clarkston and is often called the most diverse square mile in America, with a large refugee and foreign-born population. Refugee resettlement programs chose the city in the 1990s partly because its rental market was open, and renting is still common. About 14,800 people lived here at the 2020 Census, roughly 10 miles from downtown Atlanta. The city also sits on the Eastern Continental Divide.

For renters

1. Write it down. Georgia Legal Aid says a landlord must get notice before being required to repair. Send a dated letter or hand-deliver one and get a signed copy.
2. Take photos. Capture the leak, the stains and any damaged belongings.
3. Don't stop paying rent. Georgia law does not allow rent withholding. Repair-and-deduct is risky without the landlord's written agreement and a lawyer's advice.
4. File a complaint if needed. Clarkston Code Compliance accepts written complaints through the QOL Complaint Form or Report a Concern, or at 404-296-6489, and follows up every written complaint with a site inspection under the International Property Maintenance Code.

The landlord's duty to keep the premises in repair comes from O.C.G.A. 44-7-13. This is general information, not legal advice.

For owners: the permit list

Clarkston's Community Development office at 736 Park North Boulevard, Suite 120, spells out what needs a permit. Structural repairs, drywall and framing work, whether structural or not, HVAC replacement and new or replaced ductwork all need one. Painting, tiling, non-structural repairs and duct cleaning do not. That covers most rebuild work after mold removal, so ask your contractor to pull the permit before walls go back up.

Keeping mold from coming back

Georgia's long humid summers keep air conditioners running for months. Keep drain lines clear, run bathroom fans during and after showers, and keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, as EPA recommends. Patches under about 10 square feet can usually be cleaned by the occupant once the leak is fixed.

DeKalb Public Health posts indoor air quality information on its website. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

Hiring

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. For jobs that include rebuild work, check a Georgia residential or general contractor license on GOALS Verify Now. Landlords hiring for a multi-unit building should get a written scope that names the water source, the units affected and how the work area will be sealed off from occupied apartments.