Who is responsible for mold in a rental apartment?« Back to Previous Page

Under Dubai rental law, the landlord is typically responsible for structural repairs and issues arising from building defects, which includes water infiltration or inadequate insulation that leads to mold. Your situation—mold spreading from the ceiling-wall junction—often points to a leak in the building envelope or a flaw in the thermal break, not tenant behavior.

While landlords may argue that insufficient AC use causes humidity, Dubai’s extreme climate means buildings must be properly sealed. If you are running the AC consistently, as you are, and the mold is at an external wall junction, this strongly suggests an underlying structural issue. The recent dew likely exacerbated a pre-existing moisture problem.

Document everything: take clear, dated photos of the mold patch and your AC thermostat showing its settings and runtime. Submit a written notification to your landlord or property management company, citing the issue and requesting a professional inspection. For a case with visible spreading, a certified mold inspector can identify the moisture source and species, which is critical for determining responsibility and the correct remediation method.

If the landlord refuses to address it, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. They will review the evidence, including any independent inspection report, to assign responsibility. Do not attempt to clean significant mold growth yourself, as improper methods can aerosolize spores and worsen the problem.