Is landlord responsible for mold after Dubai rains?« Back to Previous Page

The landlord is typically responsible for structural repairs, including fixing the root cause of the mold—which is likely a water leak or seepage from the December rains. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords must maintain the property in a habitable condition, which includes addressing water ingress that occurs through no fault of the tenant.

However, the responsibility can become shared if the issue was exacerbated by tenant behavior, such as a complete lack of ventilation. Given the history of heavy rain and the location on an exterior wall, this strongly points to a building envelope issue.

Do not attempt to clean this yourself. The spread and strong musty odor indicate a significant moisture problem within the wall cavity that simple surface cleaning cannot fix. The first step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos, and request immediate action to identify and repair the water source.

A professional inspection is crucial to diagnose the hidden extent of the damage and identify the specific mold type. Remediation will likely require removing the wardrobe and sections of damaged drywall to properly dry the structure and treat the mold colony. Until the leak is fixed, the mold will simply return.