Black mold in villa: landlord or tenant responsibility?« Back to Previous Page

Black mold on an interior wall is almost always a landlord responsibility under Dubai rental law, as it stems from a building integrity issue like water seepage or inadequate insulation. The persistent damp feeling you describe, even with AC running, points to a chronic moisture source that needs professional diagnosis.

Your first step is to notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos. They are obligated to investigate and remediate the cause, not just paint over it. In villas, this is commonly due to capillary rising damp from the foundation, a leak in a concealed pipe, or condensation from an AC unit's drain line or poorly insulated ducts running within the wall.

For a case like this, a professional inspection is critical to identify the moisture source. Remediation involves isolating the area, removing contaminated materials like drywall, addressing the root cause, and then rebuilding. Simply cleaning the surface is ineffective and potentially hazardous, as it disperses spores.

Given Dubai's high humidity and year-round AC use, this is a frequent issue. The AC might be set too cold, causing significant condensation on walls, or it may be undersized for the room, failing to remove enough ambient moisture. A certified inspector can use moisture meters and thermal imaging to pinpoint the exact issue for your landlord to fix.