Cover Story Highlight: “Legend at Moldy Oaks” AKA Legends At River Oaks Apartments – Salt Lake City Weekly

 Are You Safe at Legends at River Oaks in Sandy, Utah? The Truth Might Shock You

If you’ve ever searched for Legends at River Oaks in Sandy, Utah hoping to find your next apartment, you’ve probably seen glossy photos and corporate marketing from Weidner Property Management. But what you won’t see on their website is now making headlines across Salt Lake City: toxic mold, health complaints, and a disturbing lack of accountability.

In a recent cover story titled “Legend at Moldy Oaks,” City Weekly teamed up with the Utah Investigative Journalism Project to expose what’s really happening behind closed doors at this high-profile apartment complex. The findings are as alarming as they are enraging: mold infestations allegedly ignored, tenants getting sick, and a property management company that seems more focused on legal shielding than renter safety.

If you’re looking for reviews, complaints, or hard facts about Weidner’s track record in Utah, this article—and what follows below—is essential reading.

“Legend at Moldy Oaks” – A Chilling Look Inside Utah’s Mold Problem

Salt Lake City’s City Weekly recently ran a blistering front-page exposé titled “Legend at Moldy Oaks,” written by journalist Sydnee Chapman in collaboration with the Utah Investigative Journalism Project. The article chronicles the disturbing living conditions and ongoing health hazards experienced by tenants at Legends at River Oaks, an apartment complex in Sandy, Utah, operated by Weidner Apartment Homes—one of the largest property management firms in the U.S.
👉 Read the full article here

A Pattern of Mold, Silence, and Tenant Dismissal

The story follows one tenant's journey from excitement to horror after moving into a unit that, at first glance, seemed well-kept. What began as a faint musty odor evolved into recurring symptoms—watery eyes, burning lungs, and a loss of taste—so severe the tenant began testing for COVID. But the true cause wasn’t viral; it was mold, quietly spreading in the walls.

Months in, the tenant discovered a starfish-shaped slime mold festering behind a TV stand, soaked carpet underneath it, and black growth inside the toilet tank—evidence of water intrusion long before move-in. Instead of support, the tenant was met with legal disclaimers, dismissive emails, and radio silence from Weidner management. Requests for proper testing were ignored. A professional mold technician warned the tenant to avoid the contaminated area altogether—a warning never echoed by property management. According to the article, the company denied any responsibility while relying on a “mold addendum” buried in the lease as a legal escape hatch.

Corporate Deflection and Legal Grey Zones

The report paints a damning portrait not just of Weidner’s handling of this case, but of a systemic loophole in Utah’s landlord-tenant laws. The Utah Fit Premises Act requires landlords to keep rentals safe and habitable, but enforcement is toothless. Local health departments claim they don’t test for mold. Building inspectors say it’s not their domain. Tenants are left with nowhere to turn—and large corporations like Weidner know it.

The article makes clear that Weidner’s refusal to even acknowledge the word “mold” may be no accident. Legal experts note that any admission—direct or indirect—could open the floodgates to lawsuits, code violations, or even class action risk. The silence appears calculated, not careless.

More Than Just One Tenant

This isn’t an isolated incident. City Weekly uncovered multiple online complaints referencing mold issues at Legends at River Oaks and other Weidner properties. A high number of reviews across Google, Yelp, BBB, and apartment review sites reflect recurring allegations of mold, leaks, poor maintenance, and unresponsive management. Yet again, there appears to be a pattern of dismissal and avoidance rather than remediation or accountability.

Final Thoughts

“Legend at Moldy Oaks” isn’t just about mold—it’s about power imbalance. It’s about what happens when tenants report health hazards in good faith, only to be met with indifference and legal red tape. It’s about a multi-billion-dollar property company seemingly playing legal chess while people get sick in their homes. And it’s about a state where renters have virtually no mold protections and even less recourse.

If you’re a tenant in Utah—or considering renting from a large corporate property group—this story is not just a warning. It’s a wake-up call.

The Utah Investigative Journalism Project: https://www.utahinvestigative.org/man-claims-sandy-landlord-ignored-the-mold-that-was-damaging-his-health/

Newsbreak about Legends At River Oaks Apartments: https://www.newsbreak.com/the-utah-investigative-journalism-project-513303/4171407184546-man-claims-sandy-landlord-ignored-the-mold-that-was-damaging-his-health