Who pays for black mold from landlord's unrepaired AC leak?« Back to Previous Page

Under the Dubai Tenancy Law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is generally responsible for maintaining the structural parts of the property, which includes the central air conditioning system and the building envelope. Since the mold growth is a direct result of a leaking AC unit that the landlord has been notified about, the responsibility for remediation and repairs typically falls on them.

Your first step is to formally document the issue. Send a dated written communication (email is best) to the landlord or property management company, reiterating the AC leak and now the visible mold growth, and attach clear photographs. This creates a crucial paper trail. The persistent high humidity in Dubai means mold can spread quickly from a constant water source like a leak, so prompt action is needed.

If they remain unresponsive, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. They have a mediation process for exactly these types of landlord-tenant maintenance disagreements. The RDC will review your evidence, including your communication history, and will often rule that the landlord must address the root cause (fixing the AC) and the resulting damage (mold remediation and wall repair). For your health and to document the extent, a professional indoor environmental assessment with lab testing can provide a verified report on the mold species and spread, which serves as strong evidence if a dispute escalates.