Landlord or tenant responsible for mold in Dubai rental?« Back to Previous Page

In Dubai, the responsibility for mold remediation depends on the source of the moisture. Under the Rental Law, landlords are responsible for the structural integrity of the property and must repair issues arising from inherent building defects, such as leaking pipes, faulty waterproofing, or inadequate external sealing that allows water ingress. Tenants are responsible for damage resulting from their own negligence or failure to maintain proper ventilation.

Your situation points to a potential building issue. Constantly running the AC should dehumidify the space; if the closet still feels humid and has developed significant mold, the cause is likely a hidden leak in a wall pipe or a flaw in the building's insulation envelope causing condensation within the wall cavity. This is a structural problem, not tenant negligence.

Your first step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing (email is best) with clear photographs of the mold and a description of the persistent dampness. They are typically obligated to arrange a professional inspection to diagnose the moisture source. Do not attempt to clean extensive black mold yourself, as improper disturbance can spread spores. A proper remediation plan requires first fixing the water source, then the mold removal.

If the landlord refuses to acknowledge the issue, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai. For your health, consider a professional indoor environmental assessment to identify the mold species and moisture source, which provides documented evidence of the problem's origin.