is black mold removal urgent for landlord or me?« Back to Previous Page

Black mold removal is urgent and should be addressed immediately, especially with children showing respiratory symptoms. The Dubai climate, with its high humidity and constant AC use, creates ideal conditions for mold to spread rapidly behind furniture and inside walls.

Legally, the responsibility typically falls on the landlord to rectify issues that affect the property's habitability, which includes significant mold infestations stemming from building envelope leaks or faulty AC drainage. However, if the mold growth is due to tenant actions like blocking ventilation or failing to run the AC, the responsibility may shift. Since this is behind a wardrobe and you've just discovered it after two years, it likely points to a pre-existing moisture issue within the wall, which is the landlord's responsibility to investigate and repair.

Your first step is to formally notify your building management or landlord in writing, with photos. They are obligated under Dubai rental laws to address health hazards. Do not attempt to remove it yourself, as disturbing it can release a large number of spores into the air and exacerbate your children's coughing. A professional inspection is critical to identify the moisture source—often a hidden pipe leak or condensation from AC ducts inside the wall—and to assess the full extent. The remediation must include fixing the water problem first, then properly containing and removing the contaminated materials. For verification, post-remediation testing by a microbiology lab is the only way to confirm the environment is safe.