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

Tenants are typically responsible for surface mold caused by daily humidity from showers if it's a minor cleaning issue. However, landlords are responsible for fixing the underlying cause if the mold results from a structural or maintenance defect, such as a leaking pipe, faulty waterproofing, poor ventilation, or a broken extractor fan.

In your Al Barsha apartment, the mold spreading from behind the toilet suggests a possible leak or seepage issue, which is a structural problem for the landlord to address. Document the issue with photos and formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing. Under Dubai rental law, landlords must provide a habitable property and are obligated to repair defects that affect your quality of life.

For persistent humidity that doesn't resolve, a professional inspection can identify if the bathroom's ventilation is undersized for Dubai's climate. Simply running the vent may not be sufficient if it's not powerful enough to remove the moist air. In many older buildings, the extractor fans are inadequate. A temporary solution is to use a portable dehumidifier for 20-30 minutes after showers to remove excess moisture until the root cause is fixed.