Learn about Jessica's experience with an unhealthy rental property in Des Moines, Iowa

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At Healthy Homes Iowa, Inc. our mission is to promote healthy homes in Iowa through sharing information and personal stories and working together with government agencies,  community leaders and residents of Iowa. Read our Featured Story below.

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Healthy Homes Iowa - Experience

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Personal experience living in unhealthy homes and navigating the process

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FEATURED STORY

Learn about Jessica's experience with unhealthy housing in Des Moines, Iowa

Healthy Homes Iowa - Jessica's story

Jessica was a tenant in a rental house in Des Moines, Iowa, through September 2024.


In January of 2024, she developed progressively worsening respiratory illness, including shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and fatigue. She underwent months of medical treatment before doctors finally suggested her illness could be environmentally related. 


In September 2024, a certified mold inspector conducted a full inspection of the home and documented numerous health and safety issues, including: 


  • High levels of Chaetomium (a known toxigenic mold) 
  • Indoor humidity at 58%, above microbial growth thresholds 
  • Extensive water intrusion, foundation cracking, efflorescence, rusted ductwork, and HVAC contamination 
  • Mold growth in vents, drywall, cabinets, basement, and air system 
  • Evidence of long-term neglect and chronic moisture conditions 


After receiving the report, Jessica immediately vacated the home. Her respiratory symptoms eventually improved, but she has been diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease, consistent with prolonged mold exposure. 


Jessica tried patiently to work with the property owners and property managers to resolve the situation, but they were not willing to negotiate in good faith. Unfortunately, she had to file a lawsuit and is hoping to get fair compensation for her losses.


The property owners and property managers who leased the rental house control at least 39 residential rental properties in Central Iowa, and concerns have been raised about whether similar health and safety issues may be affecting other tenants. 


In case you are a renter and are wondering about the property you are leasing, here is the list of defendants in the lawsuit that Jessica filed against her property owners and property managers:


M and B Scott Properties, LLC

Andrew Kenneth Miles Scott

Summer Lynn Scott

Scott's Home Renewal, LLC

Timothy P. Hegwood

Christopher Fisher

CF Consulting Corp, d/b/a PMI Realty Central Iowa, and d/b/a Property Management Inc. - Central Iowa, a/k/a PMI Central Iowa


Read the Petition filed by Jessica Henderson against the defendants.


Read the Amended Initial Disclosures filed by Jessica Henderson against the defendants.


Lawsuits filed by Defendants against other parties:





Contact us for more information.

Discovery Requests

Sent to the Defendants

Read the Discovery Requests that Jessica sent to the Defendants.


Keep in mind that defense attorneys will do anything to save their clients from accountability and responsibility including lying, deceiving, manipulating, denying the facts, altering photos, objecting to everything they don't want to answer, refusing to produce documents requested by the Plaintiff, making personal attacks against the Plaintiff, trying to blame the Plaintiff's injuries on everything except the true cause, giving false information to the court, etc.


Sent to Defendants, M and B Scott Properties, LLC, Andrew Kenneth Miles Scott, Summer Scott, and Scott's Home Renewal, LLC





Sent to Defendants, Christopher Fisher, CF Consulting Corp, d/b/a PMI Realty Central Iowa, and d/b/a Property Management Inc. - Central Iowa, a/k/a PMI Central Iowa





Sent to Defendant, Timothy P. Hegwood




Additional photos of the water damage and microbial growth in the rental house that Jessica lived in

TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

Although there are no national data on the prevalence of dampness and mold in U.S. residential buildings, the population-weighted average prevalence of dampness/mold estimated from several published studies was 47%.
People are 40% more likely to have asthma when living in a damp or mouldy home, and 94% of chronic sinus infections have been attributed to mold, costing $3.7 billion per year.
Infants who are exposed to mold in their living environments have nearly a 3X greater risk of becoming asthmatic than those who did not have mold exposure in their first year of life.
The 1995 U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) survey on school buildings indicated that 40% of schools in the U.S. had plumbing problems and 27% had roofing problems that could lead to interior or exterior water leakage.
Mold can start to grow in 24-48 hours after water intrusion. Each year, mold destroys more wood than all the fires and termites combined.
Asbestos can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. In Iowa, 432 residents died from mesothelioma from 1999-2015.
Linn and Polk Counties have suffered the most asbestos-related deaths.
In Iowa, 62% of the housing stock was built prior to 1978 and may contain lead-based paint. In 2023, 1,032 Iowa children tested had a confirmed elevated blood lead level of 3.5 mcg/dL or more.
Iowa is designated by the EPA as an entirely Zone 1 state for radon, which means that at least 50% of the homes are above EPA's recommended action level. Iowa has 400 deaths annually due to lung cancer from radon exposure.
In Iowa in 2023, there were 210 emergency department visits, 11 hospitalizations, and 11 deaths due to unintentional non-fire carbon monoxide exposure. Do you have a carbon monoxide detector?