Awaab's Law: guidance for landlords in Scotland - Easy Read version
Easy Read version of guidance to help social and private landlords comply with their duties under the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which come into force on 6 October 2026.
New rules
The new rules apply to all homes in Scotland that come under the Right to Repair Scheme or the Repairing Standard.
The Right to Repair Scheme is for social housing. It means some repairs must be done quickly within set times.
The Repairing Standard is for most private rented housing. It tells landlords what they must do to keep homes safe and in good condition.
If a tenant reports damp or mould, the landlord must:
- check it within 10 working days. Working days means not weekends or public holidays
- give the tenant a report about the check in the next 3 working days
If substantial damp or mould is found:
- repair must start within 5 working days of the check
- social landlords must finish the repair within 20 working days of starting work
- private landlords must finish the repair as soon as they can
Landlords must do their best to stop it from coming back.
The damp or mould must be checked by a skilled person. They must have the knowledge to:
- check if the home has substantial damp or mould
- decide if repair is needed
