Is landlord responsible for recurring bathroom mold in Dubai?« Back to Previous Page

Bathroom mold in Dubai is primarily caused by excessive humidity and inadequate ventilation, which are extremely common here. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), a landlord is responsible for maintaining the property's structure and essential systems, which includes the ventilation system. If the recurring black mold is a direct result of a faulty or weak exhaust fan that cannot handle the humid air from showers, the landlord is typically obligated to address the root cause.

Your weekly scrubbing with bleach is a common but often ineffective approach. Bleach only removes surface discoloration on non-porous surfaces but does not kill the mold roots deep in the porous grout. More critically, it adds moisture, which can actually fuel the regrowth you're seeing.

Document the issue clearly. Take dated photos of the mold and the weak ventilation fan. Report it in writing to your landlord or property management company, citing the inadequate ventilation as the cause. They should repair or upgrade the fan to one with sufficient extraction power for the room's size. For the existing mold, the grout likely needs professional cleaning or replacement to remove the deep infestation, followed by applying a quality sealant. A professional inspection can confirm if the moisture is solely from humidity or if there's a hidden leak, which would also be the landlord's responsibility. In many JVC apartments, this is a persistent issue that only improves with proper mechanical ventilation.