Who fixes peeling bathroom ceiling in Dubai apartment?« Back to Previous Page

Based on Dubai's rental laws and the standard Ejari tenancy contract, the responsibility for structural repairs, including those arising from water leaks from adjacent units or internal plumbing, typically falls on the landlord or property owner. This is considered a maintenance issue affecting the core integrity of the property.

However, the specific cause must be determined first. Peeling paint directly above a shower is most commonly caused by excessive humidity and inadequate ventilation, not necessarily a leak. In this case, the tenant is usually responsible for ensuring the bathroom's exhaust fan is used properly to mitigate moisture. If the damage is purely from condensation due to lack of ventilation, the landlord may argue that repainting is a tenant responsibility upon vacating.

But, given your location in Jumeirah Village Triangle and the fact it wasn't present at move-in, a professional assessment is crucial to rule out a more serious issue. A leak from the upstairs neighbor's plumbing or bathroom waterproofing failure would 100% be the landlord's responsibility to coordinate and fix. We see this frequently in Dubai's climate.

My strong recommendation is to not just repaint over it. You need a certified indoor environmental quality inspection to identify the moisture source using tools like thermal imaging and moisture meters. This will provide a definitive report on the cause, which you can then present to your landlord. For serious water damage, mold growth behind the ceiling is a significant health risk and must be addressed properly.

For a thorough inspection and cause determination, you should call our specialists at 800-MOLDS or email hello@saniservice.com. We can provide the technical report needed to resolve the responsibility issue with your landlord under Dubai municipality guidelines.