Found bathroom mold. Call landlord or cleaning company first?« Back to Previous Page

My bathroom in our Jumeirah Park villa has had this musty smell for weeks, but I only just found the source – a huge patch of black and green mold spreading behind the toilet where the wall meets the floor. It must have been a slow leak from the fittings. With this humidity, I'm worried it's going to get worse. What's the most effective way to kill this mold for good, and should I call my landlord first or a professional cleaning company?
Posted by Keiko Park
Asked on March 29, 2026 3:48 pm
As a certified mold remediation specialist operating in Dubai, I can provide specific guidance for your situation in Jumeirah Park. The scenario you describe—mold growth at the base of a toilet due to a suspected slow leak—is a common yet serious issue in our high-humidity climate, exacerbated by year-round AC use which creates significant condensation.

Your first call should absolutely be to your landlord or property management company. According to typical UAE tenancy contracts, the landlord is responsible for the structural integrity of the property and for fixing the source of the moisture, which in this case is the leaking toilet fitting. Do not attempt to remediate the mold yourself before they have been notified, as this could inadvertently disturb the mold and spread spores, or obscure the evidence needed for the landlord to address the root cause.

A standard cleaning company is not equipped to handle this. They lack the technical expertise to diagnose the moisture source, assess the potential for hidden mold within the wall cavity, or perform remediation that adheres to IICRC standards for fungal contamination. The black and green coloration indicates active colonization that requires professional-grade antimicrobial agents and containment procedures to remove safely and permanently.

Once your landlord has been alerted to stop the leak, I strongly recommend a professional inspection and remediation from a certified provider like Saniservice. Our technicians use moisture meters and thermal imaging to assess the full extent of the damage behind the wall and perform a complete hygienization process to ensure the mold is eradicated, not just superficially cleaned. For immediate assistance, please call our experts at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com.
Posted by John Jones
Answered on March 30, 2026 7:21 am