Who handles mold testing and removal, tenant or landlord?« Back to Previous Page

In the UAE, landlords are generally responsible for providing and maintaining a habitable property, which includes addressing structural issues that lead to mold, such as leaks in plumbing, roofs, or the building envelope. As a tenant, your responsibility is to maintain the property through adequate ventilation and reporting issues promptly.

Given your description—dampness persisting despite a dehumidifier and visible mold on belongings—this is a serious indoor air quality issue that should be formally reported to your landlord or property management company immediately. Document the issue with clear photos and a written notice. Under Dubai's rental laws, landlords are typically obligated to investigate and rectify such defects that affect livability. The persistent humidity you describe is a common driver in the region, often worsened by AC systems that are undersized, set at too high a temperature, or have drainage issues leading to excess moisture.

For a confirmed health and remediation plan, a professional inspection is essential to identify the moisture source and the mold type. While the landlord handles the structural fix, you may choose to independently commission a pre-remediation inspection and post-remediation verification test from a company with its own microbiology lab to ensure the problem is correctly diagnosed and resolved, not just surface-cleaned. This provides concrete evidence of the problem's scope and the solution's effectiveness.