Is landlord responsible for recurring bathroom mold in rental?« Back to Previous Page

Recurring bathroom mold is typically the landlord's responsibility to fix, as it often indicates a deeper, structural issue like poor ventilation, leaking pipes, or insufficient waterproofing. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords are obligated to maintain the property’s fundamental structure and ensure it is habitable. A persistent mold problem stemming from a building defect falls under this obligation.

Your attempts with bleach are a common but temporary fix. Bleach only removes surface discoloration and does not address the root moisture source or kill the mold's roots deep in porous grout and drywall. The high humidity here, combined with shower steam and year-round AC use creating temperature differentials, provides the perfect environment for rapid regrowth.

First, formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, detailing the issue and your failed attempts to resolve it. Include photos. They should arrange for a professional inspection to identify the underlying cause—be it a leak or inadequate exhaust ventilation. For a confirmed structural issue, they must remediate it.

If they are unresponsive, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. In the interim, improve ventilation by running the bathroom exhaust fan for at least 30 minutes after showering and wiping down wet surfaces. A professional assessment, like the kind we perform with moisture meters and lab analysis, can provide a definitive report to show the landlord, proving the issue is beyond simple surface cleaning.