If a landlord blames mould for a deposit deduction, what usually decides it is evidence of when the mould appeared and what caused it. Gulf News (5 November 2018) quoted a Rental Dispute Centre director saying a landlord must prove intentional damage, not normal wear. Photos and a written record from move-in and move-out are the most useful things a tenant can hold. This is not legal advice: check your tenancy contract and ask the Rental Dispute Centre or RERA about your case.
What the dated cases show
- Mould billed at move-out, Abu Dhabi, 2019. Gulf News (26 January 2019) reported a case in which a landlord demanded Dh10,000 for mould on top of a Dh5,000 deposit. The report says the tenant showed the mould was already there before and lost the deposit only.
- Repainting deductions, 2018. Gulf News (5 November 2018) reported Dubai tenants complaining of withheld security deposits, including a tenant whose landlord deducted Dh2,000 for repainting.
- Wear and tear. The same report quoted the Rental Dispute Centre director on normal wear versus intentional damage.
These are press reports of individual cases, not a rule. Outcomes depend on the contract, the evidence and the decision-maker.
Why mould is a hard deposit argument
Mould can come from tenant habits, such as drying laundry indoors with no ventilation. It can also come from the building, such as a leak, failed waterproofing or a blocked AC condensate line. The landlord may say the first. The tenant may say the second. Without a record, neither can prove it.
Documenting at move-in
- Take dated photos and video of every room, including bathroom ceilings, wardrobe corners, the wall behind furniture and around the AC.
- Note any musty smell or damp patch in writing on the handover sheet and send it to the landlord or agent straight away.
- Keep a copy of the signed handover or snagging list.
Documenting during the tenancy
- If you see mould or a leak, photograph it and report it in writing straight away. Keep the reply.
- Keep receipts for any cleaning or repairs you paid for.
- Do not paint over it. Repainting a damp wall can hide the cause and later be read as damage (see our guide on mould returning after painting).
Documenting at move-out
- Photograph every room again on the day, with the same angles as at move-in.
- If there is mould, get a written report that names the moisture source and says whose fix it is. If the cause was a leak or a building fault, that report supports the argument that it was not your damage.
- If you cleaned, keep the receipt or certificate. See our move-in and move-out cleaning service.
- Ask for the landlord's deduction in writing, itemised.
If a deduction remains in dispute, the Rental Dispute Centre or RERA can tell you which route applies in your emirate. Tenants in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman should check their own contract and local rules.
When to call for an inspection
Call before you hand back the keys if you can see mould, smell damp, or have a landlord who has already mentioned it. If you are worried about symptoms, see a doctor.
What MUMTAZ does
Mould inspection, AED 299 incl. VAT. It includes:
- An inspection of the affected rooms by a MUMTAZ surveyor
- Finding the moisture source, such as a blocked AC condensate line, failed silicone, cold bridging or a room with no working extract
- A photo report of what we found and what needs to change, including any fix that belongs to the landlord or the building
- A written remediation quote, so you know the price before any work starts
It does not include laboratory sampling or species identification. If you go ahead with treatment, home mould treatment is priced per affected room: AED 840 for one room, AED 1,155 for two and AED 315 for each room after that, VAT included.
The photo report is a record of what we found and whose fix it is. It does not replace the tenancy contract, and we do not decide a deposit dispute. See mould and fungus remediation, or Dubai and Sharjah coverage.