As a tenant, am I responsible for AC mold?« Back to Previous Page

The responsibility for AC mold in a rental property depends on the cause. As a tenant in Dubai, you are typically responsible for routine maintenance, like changing filters. However, you are not responsible for mold resulting from a structural issue or a faulty appliance, such as an AC unit that leaks due to a mechanical failure.

This situation—a leaking AC causing mold on the wall—is almost certainly the landlord's responsibility to fix. The leak is the source of the moisture, and addressing it is a structural repair. You should report this to your landlord or property management company immediately in writing, including clear photos of the leak and the mold growth. Under typical Dubai rental laws, the landlord is obligated to provide a habitable property and maintain the structure, which includes fixing leaks from built-in AC systems that lead to mold.

Given Dubai's high humidity, which accelerates mold growth from any moisture source, this needs prompt attention. Do not attempt to clean significant mold growth yourself, especially with bleach, as improper cleaning can disturb spores and worsen air quality. The landlord should arrange for a professional to first fix the leak at its source, then properly assess and remediate the mold. A proper inspection can identify the extent of the growth behind the wall, which is often larger than the visible patch.