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

Great question and a super common issue here in Jumeirah Village Circle, especially with this recent humidity spike. It’s brutal right now.

First things first, stop and don't try to clean it yourself. Disturbing that mold can release a ton of spores and potentially make your kids' coughing worse. That's a job for pros with the right PPE and HEPA filtration.

On to responsibility. In Dubai, this is almost always governed by the rental contract, but the general principle under common tenancy law is that the landlord is responsible for the structure and exterior of the property. This includes issues arising from inherent building defects, like a leaking pipe inside the wall or faulty external waterproofing that allows moisture ingress.

However, the tenant is responsible for maintaining the interior and ensuring adequate ventilation to prevent condensation, which is a huge problem here. If the mold is solely due to you not using the AC or keeping the apartment closed up, the liability could fall on you.

BUT, and this is a big but, the location behind a heavy wardrobe is a major red flag. That spot is notorious for poor air circulation and being a cold bridge, where condensation forms unseen. It strongly suggests a environmental humidity issue rather than a direct leak. Your landlord claiming it's your fault for "not ventilating" is a common first response, but it may not hold up.

Heres what you NEED to do:

1. Get a professional mold inspection. They will use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the exact source of the moisture. This is critical evidence. The report will determine if it's condensation (possibly shared responsibility) or an infiltration leak (landlord's responsibility 100%).

2. Document everything. Take photos, send a formal written notice to your landlord via email, and mention that you're getting a professional assessment due to health concerns.

For a proper assessment and to get that definitive report, you should really call in a specialist. We can help you figure out the source and extent of the problem.

Call us at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com for a thorough inspection. Hope the kids feel better soon.