Who handles AC leak and mold repair, landlord or tenant?« Back to Previous Page

The AC in our apartment in Al Barsha seems to be leaking a little, and now I’ve spotted black patches of mold starting to form on the wall behind the kids’ bunk bed. My youngest has been sneezing non-stop for the past week, and I’m really worried it’s affecting their health. Who is responsible for handling this kind of repair and mold remediation in a rented villa, the landlord or me as the tenant?
Posted by Hannah Walker
Asked on April 6, 2026 10:55 am
The landlord is typically responsible for structural repairs, including fixing the AC leak and addressing the resulting mold, as per Dubai rental law. Your responsibility as the tenant is to report the issue promptly in writing. The persistent moisture from the AC leak is the root cause, and Dubai's high humidity accelerates mold growth, making this a maintenance issue for the property owner.

Start by sending a formal written notice to your landlord or property management company, detailing the AC leak and visible mold. Keep a copy for your records. They should arrange for an AC technician to fix the leak first, as stopping the moisture source is critical. For the mold, the required remediation scope depends on the extent of growth behind the bed.

For a small, visible patch, the landlord might simply clean it. However, given the hidden location behind furniture and your child's allergic reaction, a professional inspection is strongly advised to assess the wall cavity's condition. Remediation involves containment, safe removal of affected materials, and antimicrobial treatment to prevent recurrence, not just surface cleaning.

If the landlord is unresponsive, you can reference the rental contract and escalate the matter to the Dubai Land Department's Rental Dispute Center (RDC) for mediation. Your child's health symptoms are a significant concern; consider temporarily moving them to another room until the issue is fully resolved.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 8, 2026 2:53 am