Is recurring bathroom mold the tenant or landlord's responsibility?« Back to Previous Page

Recurring bathroom mold in a Deira apartment is often a shared responsibility, but the primary obligation for the underlying cause typically falls on the landlord. Scrubbing surface mold with bleach is a temporary fix for the symptom, not the cause.

Your tenancy contract, governed by Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended), is the definitive document. It generally states the landlord must provide the property in a habitable condition, which includes functional ventilation systems. If the extractor fan is broken or inadequate for Dubai's high humidity, that is a maintenance issue the landlord must address. However, the tenant is responsible for daily maintenance and proper use of those facilities, like running the fan during and after showers.

Since bleach scrubbing hasn't worked and the mold recurs worse, this suggests a deeper issue. The black staining could be more than surface mold; it might indicate moisture seepage behind the tiles from a leaking pipe or failed grout sealant, which is unequivocally a structural repair for the landlord.

Formally notify your landlord or building management in writing about the persistent problem, specifying that simple cleaning is ineffective. Request they inspect and repair the ventilation system and check for hidden leaks. For documented evidence, a professional mold inspection can identify the moisture source and species type, which strengthens your case. The relentless humidity here means even a well-ventilated bathroom needs consistent cleaning, but you should not be fighting a losing battle against a structural defect.