Who is responsible for mold on rental apartment exterior wall?« Back to Previous Page

We've lived in our apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle for 2 years and just noticed a patch of black mold in the back of the bedroom closet. It's on the wall that faces the outside, and it seems to have gotten much worse since the heavy humidity last month. I'm worried it's affecting our health, but I don't know if I'm responsible for cleaning it or if my landlord has to handle it. Who is legally responsible for mold remediation in a rental here, especially if it's on an exterior wall?
Posted by Willem Russo
Asked on April 7, 2026 1:40 pm
Mold on an exterior wall is typically the landlord's responsibility to remediate, as it often stems from a structural or maintenance issue like water seepage through the wall, faulty external waterproofing, or a leaking AC condensation pipe within the building's ducting. In Dubai's rental law, the property owner is generally obligated to maintain the structure and ensure the property is habitable.

Given your location in JVC and the timing after a humid period, the cause is likely condensation due to the thermal bridge between the hot exterior and your air-conditioned interior, or a hidden leak. Document the mold with dated photos and notify your landlord or property management company in writing immediately. They should arrange for a professional inspection to identify the moisture source—simply cleaning the visible mold without fixing the underlying cause will lead to its return.

If the landlord is unresponsive, you can reference Dubai's rental law and escalate the matter through the Rental Dispute Center (RDC). For health concerns, a professional assessment with moisture mapping and air quality testing can identify the spore types and concentration levels, which provides concrete evidence of the issue's severity. In the interim, improve air circulation in the closet and keep the bedroom door open to help reduce humidity buildup.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 9, 2026 9:06 am