Should I alert my landlord about bedroom closet mold?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should alert your landlord about the mold in the bedroom closet immediately. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords are generally responsible for addressing structural defects and issues affecting the habitability of the property, which includes mold growth stemming from a leak or poor insulation in an external wall.

Given the location on the wall where it meets the outside, this is almost certainly a structural moisture issue—likely from a small leak or condensation due to the temperature differential between the air-conditioned interior and the hot, humid exterior. This is a common problem in Dubai's climate. The landlord needs to be notified so they can investigate and fix the source of the moisture; otherwise, any cleaning will be temporary as the mold will return.

For a patch that size and with a persistent damp smell, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. The inspection will identify the exact moisture source and the type of mold present. While you wait for the landlord to respond, keep the closet empty and the bedroom well-ventilated to help reduce the humidity that allows the mold to thrive. Do not attempt to clean it yourself with bleach, as this can aggravate spores and often fails to address the root cause. The remediation process for a structural issue like this involves fixing the leak, properly drying the area, and then removing the contaminated materials.