Is ceiling leak repair a tenant or landlord responsibility?« Back to Previous Page
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The paint on the ceiling of my master bedroom in my Jumeirah Village Triangle apartment has started to bubble and peel, and I think it's from a slow leak from the upstairs unit. It's gotten noticeably worse over the last two weeks since the last time they ran their AC heavily. I've reported it to the building management, but they say it's the owner's responsibility to fix the damage inside.
Am I, as the tenant, supposed to arrange and pay for the ceiling repair, or is this something the landlord is legally required to handle?
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Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), the landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the building's main structure, including the roof, walls, and ceilings. A leak originating from another unit is a structural issue, making it the landlord's obligation to repair both the source of the leak and the resultant water damage to your ceiling.
Your first step is to formally notify your landlord in writing about the issue, as they are your direct point of contact for tenancy matters, not the building management. The landlord must then coordinate with the building owner's association or the upstairs neighbor to address the leak at its source. Until the active leak is stopped, any interior repair is temporary, as the high humidity will cause mould to develop behind the new paint and the damage will recur. Given the recent escalation linked to AC usage, this is a clear sign of an active condensation or drainage issue common in Dubai's climate. You are not typically responsible for arranging or paying for this repair. If the landlord is unresponsive, you can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai. For documentation, a professional inspection can verify the moisture source and extent of damage, which strengthens your case with the landlord. |
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