Is landlord responsible for bedroom mold and repair costs?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai's rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is generally responsible for the property's structural integrity and maintenance of its core systems, which includes addressing the root cause of persistent dampness. Since the mold is recurring behind a fixed wardrobe and the room feels damp despite AC use, this strongly suggests a structural or building envelope issue, such as a hidden water leak, inadequate insulation causing condensation, or faulty external waterproofing.

Your first step is to formally notify the landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos of the spreading mold. They are obligated to investigate and fix the source of the moisture intrusion. The repair of the wall itself and addressing the leak or condensation issue would be their financial responsibility.

However, the remediation of the mold growth already present can sometimes become a point of contention. While the landlord fixes the cause, the cleanup of the resulting mold may fall to the tenant if it's deemed a maintenance issue. For a case of this size and with health symptoms involved, a professional inspection is highly recommended to identify the exact moisture source and the mold species. This documented report is your strongest evidence for requiring the landlord to act. In Dubai's climate, where high humidity meets cold AC surfaces, condensation within walls is a common, often structural, problem that the owner must resolve.