Mold from AC leak: clean myself or call landlord first?« Back to Previous Page

Call your landlord or property management company immediately. UAE tenancy law and most lease agreements place the responsibility for structural repairs, including fixing AC leaks and resulting water damage, squarely on the landlord. Document the issue with clear photos and a written notification to create a formal record.

Do not attempt a significant cleanup yourself. The visible mold on the wall is just the surface growth; the leak has likely saturated the wall's internal structure (drywall/plasterboard), creating an extensive hidden problem. Disturbing it with improper cleaning can aerosolize spores and spread the contamination throughout your apartment.

The landlord should dispatch a handyman to stop the AC leak at its source. For the mold remediation, insist they hire a professional indoor health company. The Dubai climate, with its high humidity, means mold can regrow rapidly if the area is not properly dried, treated, and verified as clean.

A proper remediation process involves containing the area, safely removing damaged porous materials like wet drywall, using industrial-grade dehumidifiers to achieve a dry standard, HEPA vacuuming, and antimicrobial treatment. The final step should be post-remediation verification, often involving air or surface testing, to confirm the spore count has returned to a normal level. This scientific approach is the only way to ensure the musty smell is permanently eliminated and the environment is truly safe.