Should I tell my landlord about mold in Dubai?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should inform your landlord immediately. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords are generally responsible for maintaining the property's structure and ensuring it is habitable, which includes addressing issues like dampness and mold that originate from building envelope defects or plumbing leaks.

Before you notify them, document everything. Take clear, dated photos and a short video of the black spots, the damp wall, and the area behind the wardrobe. Note the persistent stale smell and your children's symptoms. This creates a formal record. Send this evidence to your landlord or property management company via email or a registered channel like the Dubai REST app to have a dated, official request.

Given the description—dampness, a stale odor, and health symptoms—this is likely a case for professional assessment, not a simple DIY wipe-down. The dampness suggests an underlying moisture issue that must be fixed first. A proper inspection can identify if the mold is superficial or has penetrated the wall materials, which dictates the remediation scope. In Dubai's climate, hidden condensation from AC units or minor, unnoticed leaks are common culprits that need to be identified at the source.

Your landlord might arrange for their own contractor. Be aware that the standard is often a superficial clean. For a thorough job, the process should include identifying and stopping the moisture source, isolating the area, removing contaminated porous materials like drywall, HEPA vacuuming, and post-remediation verification. You can request that any remediation is verified with a post-clearance test to ensure spore counts are back to normal levels.