Black mold in Dubai rental: landlord or professional first?« Back to Previous Page

Your situation is common in Dubai due to the high humidity and condensation on exterior walls, especially behind furniture that restricts airflow. The black spots and your sinus issues are likely connected; certain molds produce mycotoxins that can cause these exact symptoms.

For a rental, always contact your landlord first in writing, as per Dubai's rental law. The responsibility for structural repairs and addressing the source of the moisture (like a leaking pipe or inadequate insulation in the exterior wall) typically falls on them. Provide clear photos and mention your health symptoms.

While you wait for their response, move the wardrobe away from the wall to improve air circulation. Do not attempt to clean it yourself with bleach, as this can agitate the spores and worsen air quality, and it only addresses the surface issue, not the root cause.

Your landlord may send a general handyman, but for confirmed mold, a specialized professional is needed. They will identify the moisture source, contain the area to prevent spore spread, use HEPA filtration to clean the air, and safely remove the contaminated materials. A proper remediation should be followed by a post-clearance test from an independent lab to verify the spore count is back to a safe level. This verifiable result protects both you and the landlord.