Is black grout mold landlord's responsibility in Dubai?« Back to Previous Page

Black grout in bathrooms is almost always a mold issue, exacerbated by Dubai's high humidity and year-round AC use creating constant condensation cycles. Bleach only removes surface discoloration; it cannot kill the fungal roots embedded deep within the porous grout.

Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity and waterproofing of the property. The key question is whether this is superficial mold or a symptom of a deeper sealing failure. If the water ingress is due to failing grout or cracked tiles allowing moisture into the wall substrate, that is a structural maintenance issue for the landlord. However, if the moisture is solely from bathroom use and humidity with no underlying structural fault, the cleaning may fall to the tenant.

Given that scrubbing with bleach provides only temporary relief, a professional inspection is warranted to determine the root cause. They can assess if the waterproofing behind the tiles has been compromised, which is a landlord responsibility. For a definitive answer, a moisture meter reading can show if the walls are saturated. Until the source of the persistent moisture is addressed—be it inadequate sealing, lack of ventilation, or a plumbing leak—the mold will continue to return.