SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON MOULD

Landlords in Chilliwack have a list of new worries on their hands that
runs from from Alternaria to Zygomycetes.

Mould in rental properties--usually the result of marijuana grow
operations--is increasingly seen as a maintenance problem in some
rental properties in the city.

City council repealed its building maintenance and occupancy standards
bylaw at the Dec. 20 meeting and replaced it with one that included: a
broader interpretation of definitions, the ability to force landlords
to address mould issues; and the ability to carry out remediation of
hazardous conditions and force the owner to pay for it.

In its report to council, staff said the old bylaw did not address
deficiencies being found by inspectors.

"[S]taff felt that a majority of the problem properties are rental
properties which are not being adequately managed by negligent, or
non-resident, property owners," the staff report said.

Coun. Chuck Stam addressed the bylaw at the meeting, and suggested the
dollar figure for fines might be excessive.

"An owner could be essentially levied with a $50,000 fine if there is
a poorly maintained home," Stam told the Times after the meeting.

Most of the fines are the same as in the old bylaw.