Who handles AC leak and mold in my rental?« Back to Previous Page

The AC in my apartment seems to be leaking into the wall behind it in our master bedroom, and now there's a huge patch of black mold spreading from the corner. It's been slowly getting worse over the last few weeks since the weather got so humid. We've been renting this villa in Jumeirah for about a year and I'm worried about my toddler's health. Who is responsible for handling this and paying for the mold removal, me or my landlord, and what's the first step I should take?
Posted by Faisal Al-Farsi
Asked on April 25, 2026 8:30 am
Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is generally responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the property and its core systems, which includes the AC unit and the building envelope it penetrates. An AC leak causing wall damage and mold is typically a landlord repair obligation.

Your first step is to immediately notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photographs and a description of the leak and mold growth. This creates a formal record of the issue and the date it was reported. For a significant black mold patch, a professional indoor environmental assessment is strongly advised to determine the full extent of the problem behind the wall, as surface cleaning is insufficient.

The persistent Dubai humidity accelerates mold growth from such leaks, and remediation must include fixing the water source first. For a toddler's health, addressing this quickly is a priority due to their heightened sensitivity to mold spores and poor indoor air quality. If the landlord is unresponsive, you can escalate the matter by filing a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 27, 2026 10:19 pm