Is landlord responsible for mold on apartment wall?« Back to Previous Page

This is a common tenant-landlord issue in Dubai, especially in older Deira buildings. The responsibility hinges on the cause of the moisture.

Your tenancy contract is the primary document. Standard Dubai Rental Law (Law No. 26 of 2007) and the Dubai Rental Dispute Center typically place responsibility for structural maintenance, including leaks from external walls or faulty AC drainage systems, on the landlord. However, if the moisture is due to tenant behavior—like blocking ventilation, not using AC to control humidity, or an internal leak you caused—the responsibility shifts to you.

Given that the mold returned after a DIY cleaning and correlates with high humidity, the source is likely persistent condensation or a hidden seepage. This points to a building-related issue. You should immediately notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with photos showing the progression. They are generally obligated to address the root cause, such as repairing a leaking pipe or insulating a cold bridge in the wall.

For a case like this, a professional inspection is crucial to identify the exact moisture source. A certified inspector can determine if it's condensation from the AC unit, a leak from an adjacent apartment, or rising damp—findings that definitively assign responsibility. Until the root cause is fixed, any cleaning is temporary. The landlord should arrange for proper remediation after the leak is repaired to ensure it doesn't recur. If they are unresponsive, you can file a case with the Rental Dispute Center.