Black mold in closet: clean or tell Dubai landlord?« Back to Previous Page

Stop using the closet and notify your landlord immediately. In Dubai, landlords are generally responsible for resolving structural issues that cause dampness and mould, especially when it's on an exterior wall facing the sea, which is prone to condensation from the high humidity.

For your safety, do not attempt to clean it yourself. Disturbing the mould can release spores. A professional inspection is needed to identify the moisture source—likely a hidden leak or penetrating damp from the exterior wall—and to safely remediate it. The leather items will likely require professional cleaning to prevent spore transfer.

The landlord should arrange for a proper assessment. The remediation process involves containment, HEPA-filtered air scrubbing, and antimicrobial treatment, not just surface cleaning. Once the root cause is fixed and the area is dry, you can repaint with a mould-resistant primer to prevent recurrence.