Black spots on wall after rain: DIY or call landlord?« Back to Previous Page

Document this with clear photos showing the wall's location and the extent of the black spots. In Dubai, the landlord is generally responsible for structural repairs, including fixing the source of water intrusion from outside. You should notify them immediately and send the photos, as this is likely a breach of the external building envelope that they must address. The recent heavy rains have exposed vulnerabilities in many buildings.

While waiting for their response, you can take initial steps. Move the sofa away from the wall to allow air circulation. Wipe the spots with a dilute bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to surface-clean the mould and prevent its immediate spread. However, this is only a temporary measure. The root cause is the moisture trapped within the wall cavity from the seepage. In our climate, this internal dampness, combined with air conditioning, creates a perfect environment for mould to thrive deep within, not just on the surface.

A professional inspection is strongly advised to assess the hidden damage. They use moisture meters and thermal cameras to see inside the walls and determine the full scope. Simply repainting or surface cleaning will fail, as the mould will return. The landlord needs to permanently seal the external leak, and a remediation company should then properly dry the structure and treat the affected areas to ensure it doesn't recur. Your documentation will be crucial for this process.