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

Based on UAE Civil Law and the standard Dubai rental contract (Ejari), the responsibility for mold remediation hinges on the source of the problem.

If the mold is a direct result of a structural or maintenance issue with the property—such as a leaking pipe, faulty air conditioning drainage, or water seepage through the external wall (which your situation strongly suggests)—then the landlord is unequivocally responsible for the repairs and the resulting mold remediation. The landlord is obligated to provide a habitable property, and this includes addressing moisture intrusion from the building's envelope. Your first step is to formally notify your landlord or property management company in writing, with clear photos of the affected area. We strongly recommend you do this immediately to stop the spread and document the issue.

However, if the moisture source is determined to be from tenant activities (e.g., chronic inadequate ventilation, drying clothes indoors without extraction), the tenant may be held liable for the cost of cleanup.

Given that the mold is behind a wardrobe on an external wall, this is almost certainly a building envelope issue. Do not attempt to clean this yourself, as disturbing it can aerosolize harmful spores. A professional inspection is crucial to identify the exact moisture source and assess the extent of the contamination. This documented report is your strongest evidence for the landlord.

For a certified assessment and detailed report to present to your landlord, call our experts at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com. We can identify the root cause and provide a scope of work for the responsible party to action.