Hello Steve, I understand your dilemma and addressing your rental situation here is something that might save you a move and money AND give your landlord a kick in the sunless region of his body to get the work done. Find an attorney that will work with you in taking your rent payment in escrow. Have other tenents join you in this. This is a renter's right. For the landlord wants his money and as long as you are paying it, whether to escrow or to to the landlord, it is considered paid by your renter's rights. Believe me that the landlord will move quickly on those repairs since his cannot touch the money til the work is done. But make sure you do this through an attorney. Best of luck to you. Kenneth R Sword Jr

Actually, I don't know if we can do that in Canada. We do have the right to withhold, and the right to terminiate the lease. I'm glad you mentioned this though. As of Sunday afternoon, the crisis has abated...the threat of losing all 3 tenants before the end of september (because in a hazard situation we only need to give 30 days notice) was enough. In fact, he wouldn't be paid for september either, because when we moved in we paid first and last months' rent. That got his WIFE ticked off enough to do the sunshineless-region kicking for us, and he's going to have the foundation repaired this week. What's more, I'm getting the contract to do the interior rebuild where the mold actually is, which he's going to pay for. So I could wind up with either a few months rent free, or a reduced rent over a longer period. I guess with the crisis settled, I don't need folks to rush out and pick up my hosting packages. But you're all still welcome to, of course :) Thanks again to everyone. Steve B.

I'm glad the crisis is being handled, for yours and your family's sake. Mold is bad enough to deal with, yet if its one of the strains labeled "toxic mold"...you and your family could get extremely sick from it. I know, I've been exposed to toxic mold twice --- both times in work situations. One place did do the required cleanup (after I'd already moved on) while the other owner chose not to & got shut down by the health department. Now he owns a building he can't rent because he won't fix the problem that caused numerous people to get sick. Toxic mold is no joke. I was in a coma for 7 days in the first one, and constantly getting bronchitis and pnuemonia in the 2nd. Now that my employer has moved into a different building, things ---for me & my coworkers have definitely improved. I am genuinely encouraged by all the teamwork and friendly people on this site. Generosity happens in all kinds of ways, not just monetarily...time is precious too, as is friendships. Many people don't know how to ask for help. Steve you've helped others by asking for help yourself when you needed it. I appreciate that. Thanks for sharing Steve. Thanks to you too Kathy for sharing Steve's plight with the rest of us.