Who is responsible for bathroom mold fix, tenant or landlord?« Back to Previous Page

We've lived in our Jumeirah Village Circle apartment for a year, but this humid summer has caused a ton of black mold to appear in the grout between the bathroom tiles and it's starting to creep up the wall behind the toilet. I wipe it away but it just comes back worse. Who is responsible for properly fixing this, me as the tenant or my landlord?
Posted by Amanda Torres
Asked on April 10, 2026 10:40 am
Bathroom mold is typically a maintenance issue, making the tenant responsible for regular cleaning. However, the responsibility for a proper fix depends entirely on the root cause. If the mold is due to your cleaning habits or lack of ventilation, it's your responsibility. If it's caused by a structural issue like a hidden water leak, faulty waterproofing, or poor ventilation design, then it becomes the landlord's responsibility to repair the underlying defect.

In your JVC apartment, the humidity and constant AC use create immense condensation, which soaks into porous grout and drywall. Simply wiping the surface is a temporary fix; the mold's root structure remains. The recurring growth behind the toilet strongly suggests a persistent moisture issue beyond surface humidity. You should formally notify your landlord in writing, detailing the problem and its recurrence. Request they investigate for concealed leaks or inadequate waterproofing, as these are structural defects under their purview.

For a case this persistent, a professional inspection is wise to identify the exact moisture source. They can perform a moisture mapping assessment to determine if the wall is retaining water from a leak or just ambient humidity. This evidence is crucial for discussing responsibility with your landlord. If the underlying cause is structural, the landlord should arrange and pay for the proper remediation, which involves fixing the leak, removing affected materials, and reinstalling with proper waterproofing to prevent recurrence.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 11, 2026 2:10 pm