Who pays for shower mold removal, tenant or landlord?« Back to Previous Page

This depends on the cause of the mold, which determines responsibility under standard Dubai rental laws (RERA tenancy contract).

If the mold is due to your daily use and the inherent humidity—like steam from showers with inadequate ventilation—the cost of surface cleaning typically falls to you, the tenant. This is considered routine maintenance.

However, if the mold is caused by a structural or maintenance issue, the landlord is responsible for the repair and the resulting remediation. This includes a leaking pipe inside the wall, faulty waterproofing behind the tiles, or a broken extraction fan that was part of the property's original fixtures. The landlord's obligation is to provide a habitable property, and a persistent moisture issue from a defect falls under that.

For your situation in JVC, the recent high humidity points towards condensation, but you should first check if the ventilation fan is operational. If it is, the surface cleaning is likely your task. Use a dedicated bathroom mold remover and improve air circulation by leaving the door open after showers.

If the mold reappears quickly after a thorough cleaning or you suspect a hidden leak, document it and formally request your landlord to investigate the root cause. For extensive growth, a professional inspection can identify the moisture source, which is critical for resolving the issue permanently.