Is black mold behind wardrobe urgent for landlord to fix?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, it is urgent for your landlord to address this immediately. Black spots behind furniture, especially in a bedroom, are a health and habitability issue that landlords in Dubai are obligated to rectify under the rental law.

The coughing your children are experiencing is a common reaction to mold spores in the air. While the type of mold must be confirmed by lab testing to know the exact risk, any visible growth in a living space should be treated as a priority. The recent drop in humidity might have slowed its growth, but the colony is still active and releasing spores into your bedroom air, which is then circulated by your AC. Delaying remediation allows the problem to worsen, potentially causing more extensive damage to the property and prolonging health symptoms.

You should formally notify your landlord in writing (email is best) with clear photos of the growth. Mention the suspected water source—this is likely condensation from the external wall or a hidden plumbing leak, both of which are the landlord's responsibility to investigate and repair. Simply cleaning the visible mold is insufficient; the underlying moisture problem must be identified and fixed to prevent it from returning within weeks.

For a case like this with health symptoms involved, a professional inspection is strongly recommended to assess the full extent and identify the moisture source. The remediation process should include containment of the area to prevent spore spread during removal. Once the root cause is fixed and the mold is properly removed, the air quality should be tested to confirm the space is safe.