Who is responsible for black mold removal costs, landlord or tenant?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is generally responsible for the property's structural integrity and maintenance of major building systems, including the AC and its ducting. Since the mold is spreading from the AC vent and along the ceiling—a fixed part of the structure—it is likely the landlord's responsibility to remediate. Their claim about improper ventilation is a common defense but often doesn't hold if the AC system itself is the source of condensation or a leak.

For a case involving health symptoms and visible growth, a professional inspection is critical. The inspection will identify the moisture source—often a clogged AC drain line, poor insulation on cold ducting, or a leak from the unit above—which determines liability. In JVC's high humidity, this is a frequent issue caused by system maintenance, not tenant behavior.

Document everything: take date-stamped photos of the mold, note your children's symptoms and when they began, and keep all communication with the landlord. You can file a formal complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai if the landlord refuses to act. For health safety, do not attempt to remove it yourself, as improper cleaning can aerosolize spores. A proper remediation involves fixing the moisture source, removing contaminated materials, and cleaning the AC system to prevent recurrence.