Who is responsible for mold remediation in a rental apartment?« Back to Previous Page
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The wall behind our sofa in the living room of our Deira apartment has started to show these black, fuzzy patches. We noticed it about a week after that heavy humidity last month, and it seems to be slowly spreading. Our landlord says it's our fault for not ventilating properly, but we run the AC constantly. Who is actually responsible for the cost of cleaning this and fixing the damp wall?
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Responsibility for mold remediation in a rental apartment depends on the source of the moisture. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the property. This includes fixing leaks in the building envelope, plumbing, or faulty AC drainage systems that cause dampness.
If the dampness and mold are a result of a construction defect or a leaking pipe within the wall, the financial responsibility for both the repair and the professional mold remediation falls on the landlord. However, if the issue is conclusively proven to be solely due to tenant negligence—such as a complete lack of AC use leading to condensation, or damage caused by the tenant—the cost may be the tenant's. Given your description, constant AC use should dehumidify the air, making tenant-caused condensation less likely. The timing after a period of heavy humidity suggests an underlying moisture intrusion. The landlord’s claim may not hold if the AC is functional and running. For a definitive answer, a professional inspection is needed to identify the moisture source. This inspection report, often involving moisture mapping and sometimes lab analysis to confirm the mold type, is the key evidence for determining liability. Present these objective findings to your landlord to discuss remediation. |
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