Who handles mold from AC leak: landlord or me?« Back to Previous Page
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The AC in my bedroom has been leaking a bit for a few weeks, and now I can see patches of black and green mold on the wall behind the headboard. My husband and I have both had constant stuffy noses and itchy eyes for over a month, and it’s starting to worry me. Who is responsible for properly handling this kind of remediation in a rented apartment, the landlord or should I just call a specialist myself?
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Your landlord is typically responsible for repairing the AC unit itself and fixing the resulting water damage, including mold remediation, as per standard Dubai tenancy contracts. The issue stems from a maintenance failure of the property.
You should formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing immediately. Include clear photos of the leak and the mold growth. They are obligated to address the source of the problem to prevent further damage to their asset. Persistent high humidity and condensation from a leaking AC unit create a perfect environment for mold, which is a very common issue here. For your health symptoms and the actual mold removal, it is strongly advised to involve a professional. While the landlord handles the structure, the identification and safe remediation of the mold should be done by a specialist to ensure it is addressed completely and not just painted over. DIY cleaning often disturbs spores, spreading them further. A proper inspection, often involving air or surface sampling sent to a microbiology lab, can identify the mold type and confirm it is the source of your allergies. This documentation is also useful for communicating with your landlord about the severity. Given your ongoing health symptoms, do not delay. You can arrange for a specialist yourself for an assessment and provide the report to your landlord, though the cost for the actual remediation should ultimately be theirs as it is repair-related. The priority is stopping the leak and then properly removing the contamination. |
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