Should I report black mold to Dubai building management first?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, report it to building management first. Dubai Municipality's Public Health & Safety Department requires landlords and building management to address conditions that pose health risks, including dampness and mold. They are responsible for investigating and fixing the source of the moisture, which is often a leaking pipe, faulty external waterproofing, or condensation from an AC unit inside the wall.

However, do not wait for their investigation to act for your family's health. The damp wall and spreading growth indicate an active moisture issue. In Dubai's climate, with high humidity and constant AC use, this can worsen quickly. Move your children to a different room and avoid disturbing the mold, as this can release more spores.

Building management will typically send a maintenance team to find the leak, but they are not mold remediation specialists. Their priority is stopping the water, not assessing health risk or safely removing the contaminated materials. Once the moisture source is identified and repaired, you should then hire a specialist to conduct a proper inspection. They can perform air and surface sampling to identify the mold type and provide a protocol for safe removal, which often involves isolating the area and removing affected drywall or baseboards. This two-step approach—management fixes the leak, specialists handle the biohazard—is the most effective sequence.