Is the landlord responsible for cleaning up black mold?« Back to Previous Page

The landlord is generally responsible for remedying this issue. Under UAE tenancy law, specifically Law No. (26) of 2007, the landlord is obligated to maintain the property and carry out major repairs, especially those affecting the habitability and structural integrity of the unit. Since the black mold is a direct result of an unrepaired AC leak you reported, the source of the moisture is their responsibility to fix.

You should formally notify the landlord in writing, with dated evidence of your previous report to building management, that the leak has now caused mold growth. This creates a clear record. The remediation itself is a two-part process: first, a professional must fix the AC leak at its source to stop the moisture. Second, the mold must be properly remediated. Simply wiping it is ineffective and can aerosolize spores.

For a significant patch, professional remediation is strongly advised. The Dubai climate means high humidity can cause mold to regrow quickly if not removed correctly. A proper remediation involves containment, HEPA filtration, and antimicrobial treatment of the affected structure. You can request that the landlord hires a certified company to handle it, as they are ultimately liable for returning the property to a habitable condition. If they are unresponsive, you may need to file a complaint with the Dubai Land Department's Rental Dispute Center (RDC).