Cambridge, Ont. family unable to live in mouldy home after renting it for nearly a year

A woman from Cambridge, Ont. and her three daughters have been unable to live in their home for almost a year due to mould. CTV’s Heather Senoran reports.

A Cambridge, Ont. woman said mould is preventing her and her family from moving back into the home she began renting in February 2024.

Last year, an environmental assessment found at least five types of mould in the garage, bathroom and dishwasher.

“Nobody ever expects that they’re going to move into a home and have to not even get to live in it and be afraid of homelessness,” said Lindsay McCarthy.

She spotted mould in the garage in August 2024.

“All the while, me and my [three] children are suffering, being displaced,” McCarthy explained. “My dogs are suffering, being in a kennel, being boarded.”

McCarthy and her kids have been living in the guest room of another family’s home. Soon, though, they’ll have to move again as the home is being sold. McCarthy said she’s worried about what will happen next.

LTB hearing

A Landlord and Tenant Board hearing was held in October and the next one is scheduled for Feb. 21.

McCarthy said she’s still paying the utility bills, even though she hasn’t been living there. She wants to be compensated for those payments, as well as for rent previously paid and storage costs.

“Everything was put into storage,” McCarthy said. “I’m hoping that we’re able to recover all of the rent that I’ve paid and all of these moving costs as well.”

CTV News reached out to Royal York Property Management who said they are no longer representing the landlord.

“I desperately want this to be over,” McCarthy said. “I’d like to move on. I want to be able to move into a clean home, a home where I can finally have some peace.”

The landlord told CTV News on Wednesday he would not comment until after the next hearing.

Mould cleanup

McCarthy said PuroClean, a company hired by the City of Cambridge, has been addressing the mould issues at the home.

While they did not confirm their involvement, the city said they continue to be in contact with the tenant and property owner, adding they cannot comment on an open investigation.

“In cases where a property owner fails to undertake the required work by the deadline set in an order, the city will hire a contractor to do the necessary work to bring the property into compliance. In this case, the city is currently in the process of ensuring that order is compiled,” a city staff member said in a statement to CTV News.

PuroClean did not responded to CTV News’ request for comment.

McCarthy no longer wants to live in the home and hopes she gets compensation so she can move into a new home.

“I think they should just literally knock this entire house down to the ground,” she said. “There’s not a room in here that has not been affected by mold in some way, shape or form.”