Mold in Your Apartment and Your Landlord Won't Fix It? What Michigan Renters Should Do

Short answer: if you have mold in your apartment or rental and your landlord isn't acting, stop waiting. Document everything, put your complaint in writing, and hire your own independent mold inspector. A lab report in your name is the strongest thing you can bring to your landlord, your city, your doctor, or an attorney. When it comes to your health, it's best to take matters into your own hands.

This is happening right now in Oakland County

On October 13, 2026, WDIV Local 4 reported that residents of an apartment complex in White Lake Township say mold in their units is affecting their health. Tenants described doctor visits, home test plates growing colonies, and mechanical rooms that had been painted over. Property management told the station the affected area was remediated, air testing was performed afterward, and that it isn't aware of any tested unit with a dangerous mold condition.

Spore Shield performed independent mold testing for residents at this location. We're not sharing anyone's results here. The point is the pattern we see over and over: a tenant and a property see the same building differently, and the tenant has no data of their own. Independent testing changes that.

Why a landlord's test isn't the same as your test

When a property hires an environmental consultant, that consultant's client is the property. They decide which units get sampled, when, and how the results are summarized. That doesn't mean the work is wrong. It means the report wasn't built around your questions about your apartment.

• You choose the rooms. Bedroom, HVAC closet, bathroom, wherever you're worried.
• You get the full report. Lab results, photos, moisture readings, and a plain-English explanation, delivered to you.
• It's independent. Spore Shield only tests. We don't sell remediation, so we have no reason to make a problem bigger or smaller than it is.

Step-by-step: what to do when your landlord won't fix mold

• Document it today. Take dated photos and video of any growth, staining, leaks, and condensation. Note musty smells and when symptoms happen.
• Notify your landlord in writing. Email or a dated letter, not just a phone call or a maintenance app comment. Describe what you see and ask for a repair timeline. Keep copies.
• Get an independent mold inspection. Professional air samples from your unit compared against an outdoor control, analyzed by a certified third-party AIHA/NVLAP-accredited lab. Standard results take 72 hours, with a 24-hour rush available.
• Share the report. Send it to your landlord with your written request. Lab data is much harder to dismiss than a complaint.
• Call code enforcement if nothing happens. Your city or township building department handles rental housing conditions.
• Get legal advice before withholding rent or breaking a lease. Michigan law (MCL 554.139) requires landlords to keep rentals fit and in reasonable repair, but how you act on that matters. Michigan Legal Help is a good free starting point.
• Talk to your doctor. If you or your family have symptoms at home, a written note from your doctor carries weight with landlords and attorneys.

Why DIY mold kits won't settle it

Petri dish kits and settle plates grow mold almost every time, because mold spores exist in all indoor and outdoor air. That's why a property can shrug them off. What holds up is a professional air sample compared against an outdoor control, analyzed by an accredited lab. That tells you whether the air inside your home has more mold, or different mold, than the air outside.

Pay attention to hidden spots, too. HVAC closets, around windows, under sinks, and behind furniture against exterior walls are common problem areas in apartments. Our guides to HVAC mold testing and mold on drywall show what to look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Renting in Oakland County or Metro Detroit? Get your own answers

Spore Shield provides independent mold inspection and testing for renters, homeowners, and buyers across Oakland County and Metro Detroit, including White Lake, Waterford, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield, and Novi. You get a written lab report in your name, standard results in 72 hours, and a 24-hour rush when you need it.

Call (248) 955-2269 or book an inspection online. See pricing and packages.