Who is responsible for black mold in my apartment?« Back to Previous Page

We've been in our Jumeirah Village Circle apartment for over a year and just noticed a bunch of black mold spreading from the corner of our bedroom ceiling. It’s gotten worse since the humidity spiked a couple of weeks ago and the AC has been struggling to keep up. Who is responsible for getting this cleaned and fixed, me or my landlord?
Posted by David Lewis
Asked on March 17, 2026 7:38 am
In the UAE, the responsibility for mold remediation in a rented property is primarily dictated by the tenancy contract and Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007, known as the Dubai Rental Law. Typically, the landlord is responsible for addressing structural issues and defects in the main building systems that lead to mold, such as a leaking pipe in the ceiling, faulty external waterproofing, or a deficient central AC system. However, the tenant is responsible for damages resulting from negligence, such as failing to use the AC properly to control humidity or not reporting a minor leak in a timely manner.

Your situation in Jumeirah Village Circle, with the mold originating at the ceiling corner and correlating with high humidity and AC performance, strongly suggests an underlying issue. The most common culprits are a breach in the building envelope allowing moisture ingress or a problem with the AC unit itself, such as a blocked condensate drain line causing overflow and saturation of internal structures. The Dubai climate, with its extreme humidity, exacerbates any moisture problem rapidly.

The first actionable step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with photographs, to document the issue. They are generally obligated to investigate and rectify the root cause. For the actual remediation, I strongly recommend a professional inspection. DIY cleaning is ineffective for widespread growth and can exacerbate spore dispersal. Our certified team at Saniservice uses thermal imaging, moisture meters, and borescopes to identify the exact moisture source and extent of contamination, providing a definitive report that can be used to clarify responsibility with the landlord.

For a thorough assessment and a permanent solution to the mold, please contact our specialists. Call us at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com to schedule an inspection.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on March 19, 2026 11:44 am