Short answer: Hire a licensed mold assessor who does not perform remediation, then use the written report to get bids from separate remediation contractors. Under Florida Statutes § 468.8419(1)(d), a mold assessor or the assessor’s company may not perform or offer to perform mold remediation on a structure they assessed within the previous 12 months. At Super Green Environmental we go further: we never perform remediation at all.
If you have found mold, or suspect it, the natural instinct is to call whoever can fix it fastest. Before you hire a company that sells both testing and removal, it helps to understand how the arrangement works and what the law says about it.
What does Florida law say about assessors doing remediation?
Section 468.8419 of the Florida Statutes sets out what a mold assessor may not do. Two of those rules matter most to homeowners:
- No remediation after an assessment. An assessor or the assessor’s company may not perform or offer to perform mold remediation on a structure they assessed within the last 12 months. The statute carves out a narrow exception for certain certified contractors, and the state may require those contractors to tell you that you have the right to request competitive bids.
- No inspecting property they own or profit from. An assessor may not inspect for a fee any property in which the assessor or the assessor’s company has a financial or transfer interest.
A first violation is a second-degree misdemeanor, and repeat violations carry higher penalties. You can read the full text on the Florida Senate website.
Why is a testing-and-removal company a conflict of interest?
A company that earns money from remediation has a financial reason to find mold and to find a lot of it. The more it diagnoses, the larger the job it can quote. When the same company tests your home and then prices the cleanup, nobody independent checks the scope of work. You cannot tell whether the recommendation reflects the evidence or the size of the invoice.
An independent assessor has no financial relationship with any remediation company. If there is no mold, the report says so. If there is mold, the report documents where it is and how far it extends, so you can collect competing quotes and decide for yourself.
How do I find a mold inspector who doesn’t do remediation?
- Ask directly: “Do you or any affiliated company perform mold remediation?” The answer should be a clear no.
- Ask about referral fees: “Do you receive anything from remediation companies you recommend?” An independent assessor does not take referral fees.
- Verify the license: Florida mold assessors are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You can look up a license number on the DBPR license search. Ours is MRSA2418.
- Get the scope in writing: The report should list sample locations, lab results from an accredited laboratory, and the areas that need remediation.
- Be cautious with “free” inspections: If the inspection is free and the same company sells removal, the inspection is usually how it wins the job.
What is the right order of steps?
- Hire an independent mold assessor to inspect and test the property.
- Receive a written report with laboratory results.
- If remediation is needed, send the report to two or three remediation contractors and compare their bids against the same scope.
- After the work is complete, hire the independent assessor back for post-remediation verification, which confirms the work was done correctly before the area is closed up. See our remediation protocols and post-remediation verification page.
Frequently asked questions
Can the company that tested my home also remove the mold?
Not within 12 months of the assessment, under Florida Statutes § 468.8419(1)(d), apart from the narrow contractor exception described above. Even where a company may legally do both, using one company removes the independent check on the scope of work.
Can an assessor recommend a remediation company?
We do not. Super Green Environmental does not refer jobs to remediation contractors and does not accept referral fees, so the choice of bidders is yours.
Who performs the clearance test after remediation?
An independent assessor who did not do the remediation. We provide post-remediation verification as an independent clearance test.
Will an independent report help with an insurance claim?
It gives you documented findings from a licensed assessor with no stake in the repair work. Insurers make their own coverage decisions, so we cannot promise an outcome. See our insurance and legal support page for what the reports include.
About Super Green Environmental
Super Green Environmental is a licensed Florida mold assessment company (license MRSA2418). We test and document. We do not perform remediation, and we do not take referral fees from remediation contractors. See our mold testing services, or call 833-431-6653 to schedule an independent inspection.