Am I or my landlord responsible for bathroom black mold?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai tenancy law, the landlord is generally responsible for addressing structural issues causing mold, like poor ventilation, leaking pipes, or faulty waterproofing. As the tenant, you're responsible for daily maintenance, such as wiping down surfaces and using exhaust fans. However, since you've been actively cleaning it and it continues to return, this strongly indicates an underlying moisture problem that is the landlord's obligation to fix.

The persistent return after bleach cleaning is a key sign. Bleach only removes surface discoloration on non-porous materials but does not address the root moisture or kill the mold hyphae growing within the ceiling. The high humidity Dubai experiences for much of the year creates a perfect environment for this cycle to continue.

Given your children's coughing, this should be treated with urgency. Document the mold with photos and dates, noting your repeated cleaning attempts. Formally report the issue in writing to your landlord or property manager, citing the recurring nature and potential health concerns. Request that they investigate and remediate the source of the moisture.

For a persistent case like this, a professional inspection is advisable to identify the exact moisture source and extent. Proper remediation involves fixing the water intrusion, removing the affected materials, and treating the area with specialized antimicrobials. Simply painting over it or surface cleaning will not solve the problem.