Who is responsible for mold from water damage, landlord or tenant?« Back to Previous Page

Based on UAE Civil Code and the standard tenancy contract, the landlord is generally responsible for the structural integrity of the property, which includes the building envelope, walls, and foundation. The water ingress from heavy rains, likely through that newly appeared crack, constitutes a structural defect. Therefore, the landlord is obligated to repair the source of the leak to prevent further damage.

The subsequent mold growth and damage to the carpet, however, can become a grey area. While the landlord must fix the cause (the crack and leak), the tenant is typically responsible for maintaining the interior cleanness. If the dampness was not reported immediately and was allowed to fester for two weeks, leading to mildew, the landlord could argue that the tenant failed in their duty to mitigate the damage.

In your case in JVC, given the recent extreme weather event, the initial responsibility lies with the landlord to address the water ingress point. The damp carpet and mold are a direct result of that failure. You should formally notify your landlord in writing (email is best) about the crack and the water damage, requesting immediate repairs. For the mold, professional remediation is strongly advised. Improper cleaning can aerosolize spores and spread the contamination.

For a definitive assessment of the water damage source and the mold contamination level, I recommend a professional inspection. We can provide a detailed report that outlines the cause and scope of damage, which is often necessary to resolve liability disputes with landlords. Feel free to call us at 800-MOLDS or email hello@saniservice.com to schedule an assessment.