Is landlord responsible for mold inspection and remediation?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai's rental law, the landlord is generally responsible for maintaining the structural integrity and essential systems of the property, which includes addressing issues like mold that result from building defects, such as leaking pipes, faulty waterproofing, or inadequate insulation that leads to condensation. The damp smell from your AC and ceiling spots in JVC are classic signs of a humidity problem, which is common here due to our climate and year-round AC use.

As a tenant, your responsibility is to report the issue in writing to the landlord or property management immediately. You should also document the visible mold and your child's health concerns. Prompt reporting is crucial because if the damage is deemed to have been worsened by tenant negligence, like not using the AC or failing to ventilate the property properly, liability could shift.

For a case with visible growth and health symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly advised to identify the moisture source and mold type. The landlord should arrange and pay for this diagnostic step and the subsequent remediation if the root cause is a building fault. You can request that the inspection be conducted by a company with its own microbiology lab to ensure the results are accurate and actionable, as this provides concrete evidence of the problem's scope and origin. If the landlord is unresponsive, you can file a case with the Rental Dispute Center in Dubai (RDC).