Is landlord responsible for bathroom mold and ventilation fix?« Back to Previous Page

Your landlord is responsible for fixing the underlying cause of the mold, which is the inadequate ventilation. The black grout and fuzzy growth are clear signs of a persistent humidity issue that the exhaust fan cannot manage. Under Dubai rental law (RERA), landlords must maintain the property's basic systems, including ventilation, to ensure it is habitable. The chronic humidity in your Marina apartment, exacerbated by the coastal climate and year-round AC use creating condensation, points to a building system failure, not a tenant-caused cleaning issue.

For immediate action, document the mold with photos and send a written notice to your landlord or property management company, requesting an assessment and repair of the ventilation system. Simply cleaning the visible mold without addressing the moisture source will result in it returning within weeks.

For a case with fuzzy growth, a professional inspection is advised to assess the extent. The remediation process should involve identifying the moisture source, properly containing and removing the mold, and applying antimicrobial treatments. The final, critical step is a post-remediation verification test, often a surface or air sample analyzed by a microbiology lab, to confirm the spore count has returned to a normal level. This verifiable data ensures the issue is truly resolved, not just hidden. Your responsibility as a tenant is to use the ventilation fan during and after showers and to report maintenance issues promptly.