Tenant or landlord responsible for closet mold removal?« Back to Previous Page

In Dubai's rental market, responsibility for mold removal hinges on the cause. The landlord is responsible for fixing structural issues causing the problem, like a leaking pipe in the wall, a faulty AC drain line, or poor waterproofing. You, as the tenant, are typically responsible for issues stemming from daily living, like inadequate ventilation leading to condensation.

Given the high humidity and constant AC use, condensation is a common culprit. Mold in a closet corner often results from lack of air circulation and temperature differences with the exterior wall. First, report it to your landlord or property management immediately with clear photos. They should send a technician to diagnose the source. Do not attempt to clean it yourself with bleach, as this can agitate spores and only removes surface discoloration, not the root cause.

For a confirmed leak, the landlord must repair it and arrange professional remediation. If it's purely condensation, you may need to improve ventilation, but the landlord might still assist with the cleaning. Professional remediation is advised for any patch larger than one square foot, especially since your allergies are reacting; this indicates spores are airborne. A proper fix includes identifying the mold type, containing the area, removing contaminated materials like drywall, and using HEPA filtration to clean the air. Simply wiping it is insufficient.