Who is responsible for mold remediation cost, tenant or landlord?« Back to Previous Page

We've been in our Jumeirah Village Circle apartment for about a year, and just last week I found a patch of black mold in the back corner of our master bedroom closet where we store our winter clothes. It’s been really humid lately and I think it might be spreading from a small, hidden leak. Who is responsible for dealing with this and the cost of remediation, me as the tenant or my landlord?
Posted by Deepak Yadav
Asked on March 18, 2026 1:56 am
Excellent question, and a very common point of confusion for residents in Dubai. The responsibility for mold remediation cost hinges entirely on the source of the moisture problem, as outlined in standard tenancy contracts under Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai).

Here's the breakdown:

Landlord's Responsibility: The landlord is legally obligated to maintain the property's structural integrity. If the mold is a direct result of a structural issue—such as a leaking AC condensation line within the wall, a hidden pipe leak from another apartment, a leaking roof, or faulty waterproofing and building envelope issues—then the landlord is 100% responsible for both the repair of the leak and the subsequent mold remediation costs.

Tenant's Responsibility: The tenant is responsible for maintaining the property in a clean and hygienic condition. If the mold is caused by tenant behavior, such as inadequate ventilation (not using exhaust fans, keeping AC off for prolonged periods), drying clothes indoors, or failure to report a minor leak in a timely manner which then escalated, the cost of cleanup would likely fall to you.

Given your description of a hidden leak in a JVC apartment, this strongly points to a structural or building-related issue. The high humidity exacerbates the problem, but the root cause is likely the leak.

Actionable Advice: 1) Immediately notify your landlord/property manager in writing with photos. 2) Do NOT attempt to clean it with bleach, as this can aggravate spores. 3) We strongly recommend a professional inspection to definitively identify the moisture source. Our certified inspectors use thermal imaging and moisture meters to find hidden leaks, which is crucial evidence for determining liability.

If the landlord is uncooperative, this professional report becomes essential. For a thorough assessment, call our experts at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on March 19, 2026 5:41 am