Housing standards
Repairing Standard
The Repairing Standard, in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, covers the legal and contractual obligations of private landlords to ensure that a property meets a minimum physical standard.
Read more at: Repairing standard: landlord guide
If, after a landlord has been notified of any problem, it is not resolved satisfactorily, or if there is disagreement about whether there is a problem, tenants have the right to refer the matter to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber for help with dispute resolution.
Damp and mould (Awaab's Law)
From 6 October 2026 landlords must investigate reports of damp and mould and start any repairs needed within set timescales. This relates to the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026.
Private and social landlords will be required to:
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investigate reports of damp and mould within 10 working days
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produce a written summary of investigation findings within 3 working days
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begin any required repairs within 5 working days of an investigation having taken place
We are working to publish guidance by the end of summer 2026.
This is the first set of regulations for the implementation of ‘Awaab’s Law’, named after 2-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his family's housing association flat in England.