Should I tell my landlord about AC mold in my bedroom?« Back to Previous Page

The AC in my apartment seems to be blowing a musty smell into the master bedroom, and I just found black spots along the edge of the ceiling where the wall unit is mounted. It’s been like this for a couple of weeks and seems to have gotten worse since the humidity spiked. What’s the best way to get this professionally cleaned and treated to make sure it doesn’t come back, and should I be dealing with my landlord or the building maintenance directly for something like this?
Posted by Francois Lewandowski
Asked on April 15, 2026 4:35 pm
Yes, you should inform your landlord. In Dubai, landlords are generally responsible for maintaining the property's essential systems, including the air conditioning, to ensure it is habitable and safe. The black spots and musty smell indicate a mold issue likely caused by condensation from the AC unit, a common problem in the UAE's high humidity.

For a proper fix, request that the landlord or building management arranges a professional inspection. A thorough cleaning of the AC unit and ductwork is needed, but the root cause—often a clogged drain line or insulation issue leading to moisture accumulation—must be addressed to prevent recurrence. A company with microbiological testing can identify the mold type and verify the cleanup's effectiveness with post-remediation testing, which is crucial for health and preventing regrowth.

Document your communication with dated emails or photos. If there is reluctance, you can reference the implied warranty of habitability in rental contracts. For urgent cases affecting health, escalating to the building management or property owner directly is often faster than waiting for a landlord's response.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 16, 2026 3:10 pm