Is black bathroom grout landlord's responsibility to fix?« Back to Previous Page

Black bathroom grout is most often caused by the humid Dubai climate, where condensation and poor ventilation allow mould to thrive. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), structural issues and problems with essential building systems like ventilation are typically the landlord's responsibility to rectify.

Since this is spreading to the ceiling and has a persistent damp smell, it strongly suggests an underlying issue like inadequate bathroom exhaust ventilation or a possible leak from pipes behind the wall. As a tenant, your responsibility is generally limited to surface-level cleaning and maintenance. A persistent, growing issue like this points to a fault in the property itself.

Before your contract renewal, document the issue thoroughly with photos and a dated log of your cleaning attempts. Notify your landlord or property management company in writing, clearly stating the problem and the strong smell. Request that they investigate and repair the root cause, as a simple cleaning will not solve it. For a case this advanced, a professional inspection can identify if the problem is solely condensation or a hidden leak, which is critical for determining responsibility. The most credible approach is to have the cause professionally verified.