Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.
THORNTON, Colo. -- A Thornton woman is desperately searching for a new place for her family to stay after test results revealed black mold inside her apartment unit. Ward reached out to Contact7 to dig deeper into the issue and ask what is next for her family.
“I signed a mold addendum, so I am screwed probably,” Ward said. “Ever since day one we’ve had problems.”
About two months ago, Ward and her family moved into Skyline Apartments in Thornton. She said the problems started with her air filters and air conditioning unit.
“When I noticed it was leaking on the 17th (July 17) I thought well this is odd, so I took pictures of the inside of it and that’s what I found in those pictures that I sent you on Facebook,” Ward said.
Ward said she reported the leak to the apartment management, but when it came to the test results, she didn’t get answers.
“The manager told me those test results did not matter and that most of the time when they came back they were false,” Ward said.
Ward said she filled out an accommodation form asking for her air conditioning unit to be cleaned and the mold to be removed through a crew hired by the complex. She said no one did the work after the form was submitted, so she called another vendor.
Jeff Werpy with Mold Check Inc. did the test. Contact7 checked his rating through Denver7’s partners at the Better Business Bureau, coming back at an A+.
The test results came back for Ward’s apartment, confirming the presence of stachybotrys, a form of toxic black mold.
“They should hire somebody professional to come in and clean the place,” Werpy said. “They (Ward’s family) would probably want to move out temporarily until this is done.”
Until the work is completed, Ward said her biggest concern is for her kids.
“I feel my apartment is uninhabitable especially for my three children who are autistic,” Ward said. “We paid for a habitable place to live and we don’t have that so that is what I am seeking is a habitable place for my kids.”
Contact7 went to the Skyline Apartments leasing office to ask about replacement housing for the family and cleaning for the unit. The property management company for the complex, Greystar, released the following statement in response:
“When we were made aware of the resident’s complaint, we took immediate action to address the potential issue and make repairs. Due to the resident’s schedule, there have been delays in the final checks and subsequent repairs. We will continue our efforts to work with the resident to address any issues.”