Black mold in closet: call building or tester first?« Back to Previous Page

Based on your description, that's a classic scenario we see in Dubai. The combination of an interior wall, high humidity, and an AC unit is a major red flag. Those black spots are almost certainly mold, likely fueled by a small condensation leak from the AC drain line or a breach in the ductwork inside the wall.

In the UAE, your first call should absolutely be to your building management or landlord. According to typical tenancy contracts and Dubai Municipality guidelines, the responsibility for the structural integrity of the building and the maintenance of central AC systems falls on them. They are obligated to investigate and fix the source of the moisture intrusion—this is the most critical step. If you just clean the visible mold without addressing the water source, it will 100% come back.

However, for assessment and remediation of the mold itself, you need a professional environmental company like ours. Building maintenance teams are not equipped or certified to handle mold safely. They might wipe it with bleach, which only bleaches the surface and doesn't kill the roots, and can actually aerosolize the spores, making the air quality worse for your toddler.

My recommendation: Report it to building management immediately to stop the water source. Then, call a certified inspector to test the air quality and assess the contamination level. We use thermal imaging to find the moisture source and air sampling to identify the spore types and concentrations, which is crucial for your family's health, especially with a young child.

For a proper assessment, you can reach our team at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or hello@saniservice.com. We'll provide a detailed report you can even give to your building management to show the severity.