Protect Tallahassee Students and Tenants From Unsafe Mold Conditions
The Issue
Petition to the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida housing and public-health authorities, Florida State University, and owners and managers of student housing
We, the undersigned, are calling for meaningful action to protect students and other tenants from mold and excessive moisture in apartment communities throughout Tallahassee, particularly those serving Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College.
Recent mold concerns at CollegeTown, along with reports and concerns involving other apartment communities in the Tallahassee area, have raised serious questions about indoor air quality, moisture control, HVAC maintenance, inspection practices, remediation procedures, and the treatment of residents who are displaced from their homes.
Students and their families should not have to discover widespread mold only after returning to an apartment. They should not be expected to remain in potentially unsafe conditions, handle contaminated belongings without proper guidance, or continue paying full rent for a residence they cannot safely occupy.
Mold and excessive moisture can damage clothing, furniture, electronics, school supplies, and other personal belongings. They may also cause or worsen respiratory symptoms, eye irritation, skin irritation, and other health concerns. Students who are displaced must often manage temporary housing, missed classes, transportation expenses, meals, insurance claims, and the emotional strain of suddenly losing the use of their home.
Many college students live hours away from their families and may not know how to document a problem, challenge a landlord, or obtain help from the appropriate authorities. They deserve clear protections and a reliable process for reporting unsafe housing conditions without fear of retaliation or additional financial hardship.
We respectfully request:
1. Prompt inspections of Tallahassee apartment communities when credible mold, water intrusion, excessive humidity, or HVAC-related complaints are reported.
2. A coordinated review of student apartment communities in the areas surrounding Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College, with priority given to properties with repeated moisture or mold complaints.
3. Independent mold and indoor-air-quality assessments when widespread or recurring contamination is suspected, rather than relying solely on visual inspections conducted by property management.
4. Proper inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems, roofs, plumbing, windows, doors, and other possible sources of moisture intrusion.
5. Written remediation plans that identify the source of the moisture, the areas affected, the work performed, the company completing the work, and the results of post-remediation clearance testing.
6. Qualified and properly licensed or certified professionals, where required, to perform mold assessments and remediation.
7. Safe and comparable temporary housing for residents who cannot remain in their apartments during inspection or remediation.
8. Fair rent reductions or credits for every day a leased apartment is unsafe or unavailable, along with reimbursement for reasonable displacement expenses when the property owner or manager is responsible.
9. Proper handling, documentation, and cleaning of contaminated personal property, including an inventory and photographs when belongings are removed from an apartment.
10. Clear written notice before residents are asked to enter a potentially contaminated apartment or handle affected belongings.
11. Protection from retaliation against tenants who report mold, moisture, HVAC, or indoor-air-quality concerns.
12. A transparent complaint and enforcement process through which tenants and parents can report unsafe conditions, track the status of complaints, and learn whether violations were found and corrected.
13. Cooperation from Tallahassee’s colleges and universities in educating students about tenant rights, reporting procedures, available assistance, and how to document unsafe housing conditions.
This petition is not intended to make unsupported accusations against every apartment community in Tallahassee. Its purpose is to ensure that legitimate complaints are independently investigated, harmful conditions are properly corrected, and students and other tenants are treated fairly when their homes become unsafe or uninhabitable.
College students and their families place enormous trust in the companies that own and manage student housing. Those companies have a responsibility to provide habitable residences, respond promptly to serious concerns, communicate honestly, and take appropriate corrective action.
No student should have to choose between protecting their health and attending class. No family should have to fight alone for basic accountability. We ask Tallahassee and Florida officials, local educational institutions, and apartment owners and managers to work together to establish stronger inspection, reporting, remediation, and tenant-protection measures.
Please sign this petition to help protect students and tenants throughout Tallahassee and to demand safe housing, transparent procedures, and meaningful accountability.
293
The Issue
Petition to the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida housing and public-health authorities, Florida State University, and owners and managers of student housing
We, the undersigned, are calling for meaningful action to protect students and other tenants from mold and excessive moisture in apartment communities throughout Tallahassee, particularly those serving Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College.
Recent mold concerns at CollegeTown, along with reports and concerns involving other apartment communities in the Tallahassee area, have raised serious questions about indoor air quality, moisture control, HVAC maintenance, inspection practices, remediation procedures, and the treatment of residents who are displaced from their homes.
Students and their families should not have to discover widespread mold only after returning to an apartment. They should not be expected to remain in potentially unsafe conditions, handle contaminated belongings without proper guidance, or continue paying full rent for a residence they cannot safely occupy.
Mold and excessive moisture can damage clothing, furniture, electronics, school supplies, and other personal belongings. They may also cause or worsen respiratory symptoms, eye irritation, skin irritation, and other health concerns. Students who are displaced must often manage temporary housing, missed classes, transportation expenses, meals, insurance claims, and the emotional strain of suddenly losing the use of their home.
Many college students live hours away from their families and may not know how to document a problem, challenge a landlord, or obtain help from the appropriate authorities. They deserve clear protections and a reliable process for reporting unsafe housing conditions without fear of retaliation or additional financial hardship.
We respectfully request:
1. Prompt inspections of Tallahassee apartment communities when credible mold, water intrusion, excessive humidity, or HVAC-related complaints are reported.
2. A coordinated review of student apartment communities in the areas surrounding Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College, with priority given to properties with repeated moisture or mold complaints.
3. Independent mold and indoor-air-quality assessments when widespread or recurring contamination is suspected, rather than relying solely on visual inspections conducted by property management.
4. Proper inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems, roofs, plumbing, windows, doors, and other possible sources of moisture intrusion.
5. Written remediation plans that identify the source of the moisture, the areas affected, the work performed, the company completing the work, and the results of post-remediation clearance testing.
6. Qualified and properly licensed or certified professionals, where required, to perform mold assessments and remediation.
7. Safe and comparable temporary housing for residents who cannot remain in their apartments during inspection or remediation.
8. Fair rent reductions or credits for every day a leased apartment is unsafe or unavailable, along with reimbursement for reasonable displacement expenses when the property owner or manager is responsible.
9. Proper handling, documentation, and cleaning of contaminated personal property, including an inventory and photographs when belongings are removed from an apartment.
10. Clear written notice before residents are asked to enter a potentially contaminated apartment or handle affected belongings.
11. Protection from retaliation against tenants who report mold, moisture, HVAC, or indoor-air-quality concerns.
12. A transparent complaint and enforcement process through which tenants and parents can report unsafe conditions, track the status of complaints, and learn whether violations were found and corrected.
13. Cooperation from Tallahassee’s colleges and universities in educating students about tenant rights, reporting procedures, available assistance, and how to document unsafe housing conditions.
This petition is not intended to make unsupported accusations against every apartment community in Tallahassee. Its purpose is to ensure that legitimate complaints are independently investigated, harmful conditions are properly corrected, and students and other tenants are treated fairly when their homes become unsafe or uninhabitable.
College students and their families place enormous trust in the companies that own and manage student housing. Those companies have a responsibility to provide habitable residences, respond promptly to serious concerns, communicate honestly, and take appropriate corrective action.
No student should have to choose between protecting their health and attending class. No family should have to fight alone for basic accountability. We ask Tallahassee and Florida officials, local educational institutions, and apartment owners and managers to work together to establish stronger inspection, reporting, remediation, and tenant-protection measures.
Please sign this petition to help protect students and tenants throughout Tallahassee and to demand safe housing, transparent procedures, and meaningful accountability.
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Petition created on September 9, 2026