Mold in a rental home is more than a cleaning problem. When a landlord ignores leaks, moisture, and visible growth, tenants and their children can suffer respiratory problems, worsening asthma, and allergic reactions. For more than three decades, Annapolis attorney Chris L. Beard has represented Maryland tenants who have suffered injury from mold exposure, and he concentrates his practice on these cases.
Mold grows wherever water collects, behind walls, under floors, in ductwork, and around leaking windows, and it releases spores into the air a family breathes. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports that people in damp, moldy buildings face an increased chance of respiratory problems, including shortness of breath and worsening asthma.
According to NIEHS, allergic reactions are the most common health effect, with symptoms that include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, sore throat, congestion, skin rash, and headaches. The agency also cites research linking extended exposure to memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision, and other cognitive problems, and it links the common mold Aspergillus fumigatus to fungal asthma, a particular concern for young children.
Maryland law requires landlords to keep rental housing fit to live in, and local housing codes require them to repair leaks and correct dampness. A landlord who learns of a water problem and fails to fix it properly may owe damages to the tenants who fall ill. Those damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, ruined belongings, and compensation for pain, suffering, and disruption of daily life.
Protect your health first, and see a doctor about your symptoms. Then report the problem to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. Photograph the mold, the water damage, and any damaged belongings, and save your texts, e-mails, and repair requests. Do not sign a release or a lease termination agreement that gives up your injury claim before you speak with a lawyer, because Maryland law sets deadlines for filing suit.
A strong mold case rests on proof of three things: the mold itself, the landlord's knowledge of the problem, and the link between the exposure and the illness. Chris explains to his clients what to look for when they hire an industrial hygienist to test the home and a physician to evaluate their health. He represents each client personally, from the first conversation through settlement or trial, in courts throughout Maryland.
Chris wrote "The Mold Matrix: How Courts Untangle Health Claims, Housing Codes, and Landlord Defenses," published in the Maryland Bar Journal in 2025. He also wrote "Legal Representation and Fee Agreements for the Maryland Lawyer," published by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA). Other lawyers regularly refer their mold clients to him and bring him in as co-counsel on their cases.
Your first consultation costs nothing. Chris handles mold injury cases on a contingency fee, which means he earns a fee only if you recover money. Please understand that you may remain responsible for case costs, such as testing and expert fees, as your fee agreement will explain. To arrange a consultation, e-mail chris@attorneybeard.com or use the contact form on this site.
