Is landlord responsible for mold from building humidity?« Back to Previous Page

Under the Dubai Tenancy Law, landlords are responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the property, which includes addressing issues like water infiltration or chronic humidity that lead to mold. The recent high humidity is a known trigger, but the underlying cause is often a building envelope or insulation issue allowing condensation, which is the landlord's duty to rectify.

First, document the mold with photos and immediately notify your landlord or property management in writing. They are typically obligated to investigate and fix the source of the moisture, not just the visible mold. For a patch this large and hidden, a professional inspection is strongly advised to identify the exact moisture source—it could be a hidden pipe leak, thermal bridging in the wall, or inadequate external waterproofing.

While you wait for a response, improve ventilation in the room. Run the AC continuously on dry mode to lower indoor humidity levels, which should be between 40-60%. Do not attempt to remove it yourself with bleach, as this can disturb toxic spores and only addresses the surface growth, not the root cause.

If the landlord refuses to acknowledge the issue, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. Their intervention often hinges on a professional report, so an independent assessment from a company that provides documented lab analysis and moisture mapping can be crucial evidence to demonstrate the issue is structural, not due to tenant lifestyle.