Who is responsible for mold removal in a rental property?« Back to Previous Page

Responsibility hinges on the cause of the moisture. Under Dubai's rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords are responsible for remedying structural issues that cause water intrusion, like a leaking pipe inside the wall or faulty external waterproofing. Tenants are typically responsible for damage resulting from their own negligence, such as failing to use the AC to control humidity.

In your Jumeirah case, the wall behind a wardrobe is a classic trouble spot. This area has poor air circulation, allowing condensation to form from the high ambient humidity, especially when the chilled wall meets warm, moist air. While tenants must maintain reasonable ventilation, the landlord must ensure the property's structure doesn't promote chronic dampness. Their claim of improper ventilation may not hold if the mold is due to a pre-existing condensation issue or a hidden leak.

Your first step is to formally notify the landlord in writing (email is best) with clear photos, requesting a professional mold inspection to determine the root cause. Do not attempt to clean it yourself, as improper methods can aerosolize spores. For a patch that size, a professional assessment is critical to identify any hidden moisture sources and the mold species. The remediation and repainting cost should be borne by the party responsible for the underlying moisture problem, as determined by the inspection. If the landlord refuses to address a structural cause, you may need to file a case with the Dubai Rental Dispute Center (RDC).