Is landlord responsible for bedroom mold in rental villa?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is generally responsible for the maintenance of the villa's structure, including walls and the integrity of the building envelope. Since the mold is growing on the wall itself and not due to your direct actions (like interior water damage you caused), the responsibility for the underlying repair likely falls to them. The recent humidity spike is a known catalyst, but the root cause is typically a pre-existing issue like water seepage from a leaking pipe, a crack in the external wall, or inadequate insulation leading to condensation.

Your first step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos showing the extent and location of the mold. They are obligated to investigate and address the structural defect causing the moisture. However, the process for cleanup can be less clear-cut. While they must fix the leak, the actual mold remediation might be a point of negotiation, especially if the contents of the room (like the wardrobe) need to be handled.

Given that the mold is inside a bedroom and actively spreading, a professional inspection is strongly advised to identify the exact moisture source and assess the potential for hidden growth inside the wall cavity. This provides concrete evidence for your landlord. Remediation involves fixing the water intrusion, properly drying the structure, and then removing the contaminated materials—simply wiping the spots away is ineffective and unhealthy. For a case this significant, working with a company that provides before-and-after testing to verify the spore count has been reduced to safe levels is the standard for a complete resolution.