Who is responsible for mold cleanup from an AC leak?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai tenancy law, the landlord is generally responsible for structural repairs and fixing issues with built-in appliances like the AC unit that caused the mold. This includes repairing the leak, addressing the resulting water damage, and the subsequent mold remediation.

Your responsibility as the tenant is typically to report the issue in a timely manner, which you have done. Document your report to the landlord in writing (email is best) and include photos of the leak and the spreading black mold. This creates a clear record.

However, if the leak was caused by tenant negligence—like failing to change the AC’s air filter regularly, which can cause ice buildup and subsequent leaking—the responsibility could shift. In a humid climate like Dubai's, where AC runs year-round, condensation leaks are a common source of mold and are almost always the landlord's responsibility to fix at the source.

For the mold cleanup itself, the extent matters. Surface mold on a small area might be a simple cleaning task. However, black splotches spreading behind a fixed wardrobe suggest potential growth within the wall cavity, which requires professional assessment. A certified mold inspector can determine the penetration depth and identify the species, which is crucial for proper remediation and verifies the severity to your landlord. In many cases, the wall may need to be opened, dried, and treated.