AC leak causing mold: landlord or tenant responsibility?« Back to Previous Page

This is an excellent and very common question here in Dubai. The high humidity, especially in areas like JVC, turns a small AC leak into a major mold risk incredibly fast.

From a technical standpoint, responsibility is typically split. As a tenant, you are generally responsible for reporting any maintenance issues promptly to the landlord or property management company. Your duty is to mitigate further damage once you've identified the problem. The black spots on the skirting board indicate active microbial growth, likely catalyzed by the constant moisture from the leak and our ambient humidity.

The landlord's responsibility, as per standard UAE tenancy law, is to maintain the property's structure and essential systems, which includes the air conditioning unit and its condensate drainage line—the most common source of such leaks. They are obligated to repair the AC to prevent the ongoing water intrusion.

However, the resulting mold damage and necessary remediation can become a grey area. If you failed to report the leak in a timely manner, liability for the mold cleanup could shift to you. Conversely, if you reported it and the landlord did not act, the responsibility for all repairs and remediation falls squarely on them.

My strong recommendation: Stop the water source first. Report the AC leak to your landlord or property manager in writing immediately. For the potential mold, given its proximity to the carpet and building materials, a professional inspection is highly advised. We use thermal imaging and moisture meters to assess the extent of the water damage and air sampling to identify the spore types and concentration. This report is crucial evidence for determining liability and the scope of work needed.

Don't let this escalate. For a certified assessment, you can call our team at 800-MOLDS or email hello@saniservice.com. Acting fast is key to preventing a health issue and a more expensive fix.