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New regulations to protect tenants in Scotland from damp and mould are to be laid at Holyrood.
The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 will introduce new duties on landlords to investigate reports of damp and mould and initiate any necessary repairs within a set timescale, subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament.
This is the first set of regulations for the implementation of Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 from a severe respiratory illness caused by prolonged exposure to the mould in his family’s housing association flat in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Awaab Ishak. Pic: Farleys Solicitors/PA
The toddler’s death caused outrage and prompted the passage of Awaab’s Law south of the border with a requirement for landlords to fix reported hazards in social housing more speedily and rehouse tenants in safe accommodation if necessary.
The new law came into force in England in October, with Awaab’s father, Faisal Abdullah, telling Sky News that although it would “never bring Awaab back… it might be enough to protect others”.
Scotland’s Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “Everyone deserves to live in a home free from damp and mould.
“These regulations will help to ensure that’s the case by requiring any instances to be swiftly investigated by landlords and prompt action taken.”
Ms McAllan said while “90% of homes are free from damp and mould” in Scotland, the government wants to make sure “everyone is protected”.
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She added: “That’s why we are leading the way in rolling out these protections to both social and private tenants.
“We have worked closely with tenant groups, landlords and other stakeholders to develop regulations that protect tenants while being practical for landlords to implement.
“We will also be raising awareness of the importance of identifying and addressing damp and mould issues as quickly as possible.”
