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.
Damp and mould
These can be bad for people’s health and bad for the building. It can get worse the longer it is not fixed.
They can cause:
- breathing problems
- rashes or sore skin
- poor mental health
What it is
Damp happens when there is too much water in the air or walls. This can cause mould to grow. There are different kinds of damp.
- traumatic damp
- rising damp
- penetrating damp
- condensation
Traumatic damp is caused by a sudden bad event, like a burst pipe.
Rising damp comes up from the ground. It usually only affects the ground floor. The landlord must usually fix this.
What you might see outside near the bottom of the wall:
- strange colour bricks or stone
- crumbly bricks or stone
- moss
What it might be like inside:
- a stained line going across the wall
- flakes or bubbles low down on walls
- rotten skirting boards
- damp smell, maybe from carpets
- damp carpets
Penetrating damp gets into a property from outside because something is wrong with part of the building. Like the walls or roof. The landlord must usually fix this.
What it might be like inside:
- damp patches on walls and ceilings
- strange coloured patches on walls and ceilings
- flakes or bubbles on walls
- rot on wood or inside the roof
- bad or mouldy smell
- mould on walls, carpets
What it might look like outside:
- dark patches or mould on walls
- plants in gutters
- plants in cracks
Condensation is when humid air touches a cold wall or window. Humid is when there is lots of water in the air. The water goes from the air onto the wall. This lets mould grow.
What it might look like:
- water drops on surfaces
- visible mould
There may be things that a tenant can do to stop condensation in their home.