Is black mold from AC landlord or tenant responsibility?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords are responsible for maintaining the structural integrity and major systems of a property, which includes the central AC unit and its ductwork. Since the mold is originating from the AC system itself, this is typically the landlord's responsibility to remediate.

The high humidity in JVC, especially during summer, creates significant condensation inside AC units, which is a primary cause of this mold growth. Simply cleaning the visible mold around the vent is a temporary fix; the internal evaporator coils and drip pans are likely the main source of the odor and contamination.

You should formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, detailing the issue and including photos of the mold. Request a professional inspection and remediation of the entire AC system, not just a superficial cleaning. A proper remediation involves identifying and correcting the moisture source, cleaning the internal components, and sanitizing the ductwork to prevent recurrence. For verification, you can request that the company provides before-and-after testing to confirm the spore count has been measurably reduced.

If the landlord is unresponsive, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai. As a tenant, your responsibility is generally limited to maintaining cleanliness and reporting issues promptly, which you have done.