AMSTERDAM — At 15 Stella Lane, the sign on the door reads, “House contaminated by mold. Forced to move by mold, decrepit conditions and a neglectful landlord.”

A large pile of “mold contaminated items” is heaped on the front lawn, including furniture, exercise equipment, toys, rugs and more than 25 garbage bags. A sign on top of the pile urges the Department of Public Works to bill Umberto and Betty DeRose of Del Ray Beach, Fla.

Alderman Joseph Isabel, R-1st Ward, who visited the property Tuesday night with Mayor Ann Thane and Alderman Daniel Roth, R-2nd Ward, said it is another example of the city’s need for a way to keep track of out-of-town landlords.

“Complaints are coming in every day like that,” he said. “Something has got to be done to stop it.”

Last month, two women were forced to move from their apartment at 218 E. Main St. after it was condemned. The fire department closed the building due to unsafe conditions after the out-of-state landlord cut power to the building’s fire alarms.

In the Stella Lane case, Isabel said he received a complaint from a neighbor who said there was a lot of garbage outside the home.

Former alderman Anthony “Babe” Pallotta, who lives in the neighborhood, said the family had a small child who became sick from the mold in the home. He said the family has since moved to Canajoharie.

Isabel said the family was paying about $800 a month for the single-family home in a quiet neighborhood of single-family houses, manicured lawns and flower beds off Clizbe Avenue.

“It doesn’t matter where you live in the city; everyone is affected by this,” Roth said.

Fire Chief Richard Liberti visited the house on Friday and confirmed that there was mold.

Roth, who owns Veterans Construction, said mold needs to be cut out and disposed of properly by workers wearing respirators and protective clothing.

“Most people think they can wipe it down with bleach or paint over it, but it always comes back,” he said.

“Apparently they were good tenants who took good care of the property, so this isn’t an instance of bad tenants,” Isabel said.

Attempts to reach the owner of 15 Stella Lane for comment were unsuccessful Wednesday. The phone number for Umberto DeRose in Del Ray Beach, Fla., is not listed.

Isabel has been pushing for legislation that would force landlords who live out of town to register with the city. The legislation would also include a certificate of occupancy for all rental properties in the city to ensure that tenants would be moving into safe conditions.

Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis gave Common Council members a rough draft of the legislation Tuesday, but they did not publicly discuss it.