Is AC certification my responsibility as a tenant?« Back to Previous Page

Based on the tenancy laws here in Dubai, specifically Law No. 26 of 2007, the responsibility for major maintenance and repairs of essential utilities like the AC unit itself falls squarely on the landlord. This includes fixing mechanical failures like the compressor or the fan motor that's causing that rattling noise you're hearing.

However, the term "choosing certified" is a bit of a misnomer and likely refers to obtaining a certified inspection report. The landlord is essentially requesting a professional, documented diagnosis from a DMCA-certified or ESMA-accredited HVAC technician before they will authorize and pay for the actual repair. This is a common and reasonable request from a landlord to verify the nature and cost of the problem.

While the landlord is obligated to pay for the repair of the unit itself, the process of arranging for that initial certified inspection can sometimes become a point of contention. It is not explicitly stated in the law who must arrange it, so this often comes down to what is stipulated in your tenancy contract. Some contracts may place the administrative burden on the tenant to coordinate the initial assessment.

Given the symptoms you describe – a rattling noise progressing to a loss of cooling – this indicates a serious mechanical issue that requires immediate professional attention. Delaying can lead to a complete system failure.

My strong recommendation is to proceed with a certified inspection to document the issue formally. For a definitive diagnosis that your landlord will accept, you should contact a specialist. We can provide a DMCA-certified inspection report that clearly outlines the fault and required remediation, which you can then present to your landlord.

Call 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com to schedule this. Getting this certified report is the fastest way to resolve the dispute and get your AC fixed.