Mold in Dubai apartment closet: call landlord or professional?« Back to Previous Page

Contact your landlord first. Under Dubai rental law (RERA), landlords are typically responsible for addressing structural issues leading to moisture and mold, as it affects the property's habitability. This is especially true if the mold is on an external wall, which could indicate an insulation or seepage problem common in older Marina buildings due to the high humidity and saline air.

While waiting for their response, move the affected items to a dry area to prevent further spread. Do not attempt to clean the mold off the jackets with bleach, as this can set the stains and is ineffective on porous materials. A specialized restoration cleaner can assess if they are salvageable.

For the apartment itself, a professional inspection is the fastest way to a proper solution. The damp smell suggests hidden mold within the wall or behind the closet lining. A reputable company will use a moisture meter to find the water source and thermal imaging to see the extent of the problem behind surfaces. They can then provide your landlord with a certified report detailing the cause and the required remediation scope, which is often necessary to get the work approved and paid for. Simply cleaning the visible mold without fixing the underlying moisture issue will result in it returning quickly in Dubai's climate.