Mold behind wardrobe: report landlord or clean first?« Back to Previous Page

Report this to your landlord immediately, before any cleaning. Under Dubai rental law (RERA), landlords are responsible for maintaining the property's structural integrity and addressing issues like dampness and mold that affect livability. Sending them photos and a formal written notification starts the clock on their obligation to rectify the problem.

Do not attempt to clean it yourself. Disturbing a large patch can release a significant number of spores into your bedroom air, potentially worsening your children's coughing. A professional inspection is needed to identify the moisture source—it's often condensation from an AC unit, a leaking pipe in the wall, or moisture wicking from the floor slab, all common in Dubai's climate. Simply wiping the visible growth does nothing to stop it from returning.

For a case like this with health symptoms, a proper remediation is required. This involves isolating the area, using HEPA filtration to capture airborne spores during cleaning, safely removing the contaminated materials, and applying antimicrobial solutions. The landlord's maintenance team may handle it, but for health assurance, you can request they hire a specialist firm that provides before-and-after lab testing to verify the spore count in the room has returned to a normal level. Your priority is to stop the exposure causing the cough.