Who pays for mold remediation in a Marina rental?« Back to Previous Page

In Dubai rentals, the landlord is generally responsible for fixing the root cause of the mold, such as a leaking AC condensation pipe, faulty seal, or structural water ingress, as these are considered maintenance issues affecting the property's integrity. You, as the tenant, are typically responsible for addressing the mold growth itself if it resulted from your own actions, like inadequate ventilation or failing to report a leak promptly.

Given the description of a hidden AC leak behind a wardrobe, this points to a building or HVAC system issue, not tenant negligence. Your first step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos of the mold and the suspected leak source. The humid Marina climate, with year-round AC use, makes condensation leaks a frequent culprit.

For a patch large enough to cause persistent coughing in children, professional remediation is strongly advised. DIY cleaning on porous materials like drywall is often ineffective and can disturb toxic spores, worsening air quality. A proper fix requires repairing the leak, removing contaminated materials, and HEPA-filtered air scrubbing.

If the landlord disputes responsibility, you can reference the Dubai Rental Law, which mandates landlords provide a habitable property. Escalation can be made to the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. For health safety, consider an independent indoor environmental assessment to document the source and extent of contamination; this provides concrete evidence if a dispute arises.