I found termite damage in my Dubai villa — how serious is it and who pays?

Termite damage in a 2004 Meadows villa is a serious issue that needs immediate professional attention — not because it's necessarily catastrophic right now, but because termite damage accelerates quickly and the longer you wait, the more expensive treatment becomes. How serious: Door frames and skirting board damage suggests an active, established colony. In a 20-year-old villa, there may be significant structural timber affected that isn't yet visible. Get a professional inspection immediately. Treatment: For a villa of this age with active infestation, expect soil treatment (chemical barrier around the property perimeter) combined with direct injection into affected timber. Cost: AED 1,500–3,500 depending on the extent. Responsibility: If you're renting, termite infestation is unambiguously the landlord's responsibility — it's a structural pest issue, not caused by tenant behaviour. Report it in writing today with photos. Do not delay — termite damage worsens every week and landlords sometimes try to claim tenant negligence if the issue was known but not reported promptly.