Is damp closet mold the landlord's responsibility?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai rental law, the landlord is generally responsible for repairing issues related to the building's structure, such as leaks in walls or faulty external waterproofing that lead to internal dampness. This type of hidden condensation problem in Jumeirah Village Triangle, often caused by poor insulation or a breach in the building envelope, typically falls to the owner to rectify.

Your responsibility as a tenant usually covers maintenance resulting from daily living, like ensuring the AC is used to manage humidity and that rooms are properly ventilated. However, if the black spots appeared due to a structural flaw and not your negligence, the repair should be the landlord's obligation.

First, notify your landlord or property management company in writing with clear photos. They should arrange for a professional inspection to identify the moisture source—it could be an internal AC condensation drain leak, a seepage issue from an adjacent wall, or poor thermal insulation causing cold spots and condensation. Merely cleaning the visible mold is a temporary fix; the underlying water issue must be resolved.

For documentation and to establish the cause, a professional assessment with moisture mapping is advisable. In persistent humidity like Dubai's, the root cause is often a correctable building defect. If the landlord is unresponsive, you can reference your tenancy contract and seek guidance from the Dubai Land Department's Rental Dispute Center.