ᐅ Moisture Issues in Basement Apartment

Because of the mold in the apartment, I found out today that there have been repeated mold problems before. However, it apparently never reached this extent. I managed to get in touch with the former building manager through indirect contacts. He said he painted over it many times and used mold remover. The seller was aware of the issue. She confirmed to me before the sale, in front of witnesses, that there was no mold.

Would this be grounds to challenge the purchase due to fraudulent misrepresentation? Both the building manager and the witness from the sales conversation would testify in court. The previous tenants could probably be found easily, and they would likely say the same.

What a hassle over an apartment like this...

A lawyer is the right contact person for this matter.

Regarding the mold: if it’s not caused by the heating system, I would suspect poor insulation. Since the area is underground, either groundwater or cold soil is present. Warm air with high humidity enters and the moisture condenses on the cooled wall.
Since the photos show the mold mainly in the lower area, it is possible that the insulation did not extend deep enough.

A leaking heating system can cause this, but not necessarily. The heating system often loses pressure due to a faulty expansion vessel.

Thank you for the confirmation. Mold in the apartment is almost never caused by "incorrect ventilation."

You can't generalize this. In older buildings where new, airtight windows are installed, the heating and ventilation behavior definitely needs to be adjusted. However, this always depends on the building structure, which I agree with you on.

In the meantime, an unsuccessful leak detection was carried out, and a rainwater drainage channel was inspected. According to the expert, the next step is to excavate around the house to check underground pipes and the building insulation for damage.

Unfortunately, the building insurance no longer covers this. The excavation will cost approximately €1,000 (about $1,100) plus the fee for someone to inspect the exposed areas. Does anyone know if the homeowners' association covers this? Or do I have to pay for it myself and possibly recover the costs later from the homeowners' association if damage to the individual property is confirmed?

Claiming rescission due to fraudulent misrepresentation will be difficult. The janitor told an acquaintance that he had painted over the area about five years ago because there was slight mold. This was done on the seller’s instructions, who told me there had never been any mold there. However, he refused to provide contact information and stated he would not testify in court because he is afraid of the seller’s son. Also, it would likely be a case of one statement against another. I am currently trying to locate the previous tenant in the hope that she can contribute some information. I know the block where she lives and her name but since she is not listed in the phone book, I have to look for her—very uncertain.

I am still hoping that a fixable issue will be found that can be resolved at the expense of the homeowners' association.

Excavations around the building start today. This was already found at the beginning of the work.