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Can our landlord hire an unlicensed contractor to remedy toxic mold?

We had a mold inspection conducted by a licensed engineer. It came back as toxic mold. Our landlord stated he was hiring ServPro to complete the repairs and restoration. Two gentlemen showed up with a truck clearly marked “Not a Licensed Contractor.” They are currently cutting through walls and claim the repair is a “walk in the park.” They seem very vague with their explanations, and he continuously repeats himself, stating, “I want to have to do more work to get paid more. I’m not on the landlord’s side.” We never mentioned any form of bias, yet he has reassured us over 10 times that he isn’t biased. Our biggest question is it legal for e landlord to have hired them?

1 reply

Jan 6, 2020

In Arizona, working as a contractor without a license is a misdemeanor. If a dispute arose between your landlord and the contractor, the contractor would be prohibited from suing the landlord in an Arizona court because unlicensed contractors are denied access to Arizona's courts to collect for work that was performed without a license. With respect to your relationship with the landlord, the landlord is required under Arizona's Residential Landlord Tenant Act to maintain a premises that is fit to live in. So the most important factor is the condition of the premises in which you live. The use of an unlicensed contractor by the landlord does not, strictly speaking, violate that Act. As long as the landlord gets rid of the mold, then there should not be an issue.

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