Who is responsible for mold in my Deira apartment?« Back to Previous Page

Responsibility for mold in a Dubai rental apartment depends on the source of the moisture. The tenancy contract is the primary guide, but general practice follows Dubai's rental law. The landlord is typically responsible for fixing structural defects that cause water ingress, like leaks in external walls or faulty window seals. The tenant is usually responsible for issues stemming from daily living, such as condensation from showering without proper ventilation or blocking airflow with furniture.

In your Deira apartment, the mold behind the wardrobe is a common issue due to our high humidity. If the wall is an exterior wall and the mold is caused by penetrating damp from outside, the building management or landlord should address the leak and subsequent damage. However, if the mold is due to condensation—a frequent problem when furniture is placed against cold walls in air-conditioned spaces, trapping humid air—this is often considered the tenant's responsibility to remediate and prevent.

The fastest way to resolve this is to first inform your landlord or property management company in writing with clear photos. They should send a technician to identify the moisture source. For immediate health concerns with children, you can safely clean small areas (under 1 square meter) with a vinegar or diluted bleach solution, but proper remediation requires fixing the root cause. Given the visible growth, a professional inspection is advised to assess the wall cavity and ensure the spores are properly contained during cleaning, which is a service we provide with verified before-and-after testing.