Should I tell my landlord about black mold causing coughs?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should inform your landlord immediately. The persistent cough in your children is a significant health indicator, and the mold's location on an exterior wall suggests a moisture intrusion issue that is the building owner's responsibility to address.

Black mold growth on an interior wall facing outside is a classic symptom of a building envelope problem in Dubai's climate. The intense humidity causes condensation within the wall cavity, creating a hidden reservoir of moisture that simple surface cleaning cannot fix. Bleach will only remove the visible stain on the surface; it will not address the dampness inside the wall, so the mold will return.

Your landlord is legally obligated under UAE tenancy law to provide a habitable property, which includes addressing structural defects leading to dampness and mold. Document everything: take clear photos of the mold, note the dates you first noticed it and the symptoms, and formally communicate the issue to your landlord or property manager in writing. This creates a necessary paper trail.

For a case like this, a professional inspection is strongly advised to identify the source of the moisture—whether it's a leaking pipe, faulty waterproofing, or thermal bridging. A proper remediation plan must fix the water source, remove the contaminated materials, and restore healthy conditions. Surface cleaning alone is insufficient and potentially hazardous if it disturbs toxic spores.