Are tenants or landlords responsible for closet mold?« Back to Previous Page

The responsibility typically falls on the landlord if the mold is due to a structural issue, such as a hidden water leak from plumbing, faulty external wall insulation, or a leaking AC condensation line. These are considered maintenance issues related to the property itself. However, if the mold is solely caused by tenant behavior—like completely blocking ventilation or failing to use the AC—the tenant may be liable.

In your JVC apartment, the pattern of it returning after wiping and worsening with high humidity strongly suggests an underlying moisture source. The back wall of a closet is a classic location for condensation issues, often caused by a "cold bridge" where the building's external wall is poorly insulated and meets the interior cooled air. This is extremely common in Dubai's climate. Document everything with dated photos and notify your landlord in writing immediately. Under Dubai's rental laws, landlords are obligated to provide a habitable property, and persistent mold from a structural defect breaches that.

While you wait for a response, stop wiping it, as this can spread spores. Move affected clothing and improve air circulation by slightly opening the closet door and ensuring no vents are blocked. A professional inspection is the only way to confirm the root cause, as they can use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the exact source of water intrusion. This documented evidence is crucial for your landlord to understand the severity and for any remediation to be effective.