Is landlord responsible for black mold around AC vent?« Back to Previous Page

The landlord is responsible for addressing this. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), landlords must maintain the property's structure and essential systems, which includes the AC and its ductwork. The black mold around the vent is a clear sign of a problem within the system itself, likely due to a clogged condensate drain line or poor insulation in the ducts causing excessive moisture buildup.

Do not clean it yourself. The visible mold is just a symptom; the professional cleaners need to see the full extent of the issue to fix the root cause. Inform your landlord or the building management in writing immediately, with photos, and state that the AC cleaning company must specifically inspect and remediate the mold source. In Dubai's climate, with high humidity and year-round AC use, this is a common but serious issue that requires proper diagnosis to prevent it from recurring.

A legitimate deep cleaning service should handle this. Ensure they perform more than just a superficial clean; they need to check the drain pan, flush the drain line with a biocleaner, and inspect duct integrity. If the problem persists after their visit, a specialized indoor environmental assessment with microbial testing may be necessary to identify the specific mold type and contamination level.