Who is responsible for mold from landlord's leak in Dubai?« Back to Previous Page
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The ceiling in our master bedroom closet has had a small leak for a couple of months, but now I’ve peeled back a corner of the wallpaper and found a huge patch of black, fuzzy mold spreading behind it. Our landlord is saying it’s our fault for not ventilating properly, but the leak is clearly from the upstairs unit’s AC condensation. Who is legally responsible for the mold remediation and fixing the leak here in Dubai?
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The responsibility for mold remediation and fixing the leak in Dubai falls on your landlord. Under UAE tenancy law, the property owner is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the building, which includes repairing leaks from common building systems like AC drainage. The presence of a leak from the upstairs unit’s condensation line is a maintenance issue, not a tenant-caused ventilation problem.
Document the issue immediately with clear photographs and videos showing the leak’s origin and the extent of the hidden mold growth. This visual evidence is crucial. Submit a formal written notification to your landlord or property management company, requesting immediate repairs for the leak and a professional mold inspection. For a situation of this scale, a proper assessment is essential to determine the full extent behind the walls. Dubai’s high humidity and constant AC use make condensation leaks a common source of hidden mold. While tenants are expected to ventilate bathrooms, a persistent leak from another unit is the landlord’s legal obligation to address. If the landlord remains unresponsive, you can escalate the matter to the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre in Dubai. Do not attempt to remediate this yourself, as improper handling can aerosolize spores and spread the contamination. The leak must be repaired first, followed by professional mold removal to ensure it is addressed safely and completely. |
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