Is the mold in my closet causing my wife's sickness?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the mold is very likely causing your wife's symptoms. The black spots are a visual confirmation of a colony, and her stuffy nose and sore throat that clear up when she leaves the bedroom are classic signs of mold exposure. In Dubai's humid climate, an AC leak creates a perfect, continuous moisture source for mold to thrive, especially in enclosed spaces like a closet.

The fastest way to address this involves two steps: stopping the moisture and properly remediating the mold. First, document everything with clear photos and videos of the leak, the black spots, and the affected belongings. Send this evidence to your landlord via email or the Dubai REST app, citing your right to a habitable property under UAE tenancy law. Request immediate repair of the AC unit to stop the leak at its source.

For the cleanup, do not attempt to scrub it yourself. Disturbing the colony without proper containment can aerosolize the spores, potentially worsening your wife's symptoms and spreading the problem. You need a professional assessment. A certified mold inspector can conduct air and surface sampling to identify the species and extent of contamination, which provides a scientific report you can use to ensure the landlord addresses it completely. The remediation process itself involves isolating the area, using HEPA filtration, removing contaminated porous materials like those shoes, and treating the wall to prevent regrowth. A proper post-remediation verification test is the only way to confirm the space is truly safe again.