Should I alert my landlord about mold and damp walls?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should alert your landlord immediately. The damp wall and visible mold growth, especially with associated health symptoms like your children's coughing, constitute a legitimate maintenance issue that the property owner is responsible for addressing under typical Dubai tenancy contracts.

The dampness indicates an ongoing moisture source, likely a hidden plumbing leak within the wall or condensation from an AC line, which is common in our humid climate. Simply wiping the visible black spots with a store-bought cleaner is a temporary fix that will fail. The moisture problem must be repaired first to prevent regrowth.

Document everything: take clear photos of the mold and the damp wall, and send a formal written notification (email is best) to your landlord or building management. Reference the two-year occupancy and the recent discovery. This creates a necessary paper trail. In many cases, they will dispatch a maintenance team to identify and fix the water source.

Once the leak is fixed, the mold remediation can begin. For a contained area behind furniture, a thorough cleaning with appropriate antimicrobial agents may suffice. However, given the health symptoms and potential for hidden growth inside the wall cavity, a professional assessment is prudent to confirm the extent and recommend the correct remediation protocol, which may involve controlled removal of affected materials. The landlord is typically responsible for the cost of repairing the leak and the resultant damage.