Scottish social housing landlords urged to tackle damp and mould

Social housing landlords in Scotland could be leaving tenants at risk due to a lack of mould training.

A survey reveals one-third of Scottish social housing tenants lack confidence their landlords will resolve ongoing issues.

Awaab’s law will come into effect in England with Scotland to follow at a later date to be confirmed.

The news comes after the Housing Ombudsman revealed a rise in damp and mould complaints from social housing tenants.

Social housing landlords need to act now

George Edwards, managing director of Timberwise, says more work and education are required in treating damp and mould.

He said: “There’s a major skills gap. Social housing providers have been slow to prioritise damp and mould issues, and too often unqualified contractors, selected based on cost, fail to deliver on their promises.

“Temporary fixes, like simply cleaning mould, are common, but they don’t address the root causes. This leads to recurring problems and frustrated tenants.”

Mr Edwards warned the sector is struggling to find enough qualified experts to meet the legal requirements.

“The challenge is huge. Social housing landlords need to act now to ensure they have the capacity to implement long-term, sustainable solutions. If they don’t, we risk seeing continued tenant frustration and a lack of confidence in landlords’ ability to tackle damp and mould.”

Effective solutions require a holistic approach

One of the key issues, according to Mr Edwards, is social housing landlords’ failure to understand the full range of factors that contribute to condensation, which in turn causes mould.

He said: “Effective solutions require a holistic approach, considering occupancy patterns, heating regimes, and ventilation systems.

“Social housing landlords must be proactive and consider modern, energy-efficient solutions such as positive pressure ventilation units, automatic mechanical ventilation systems, and data logging technology to monitor performance.

“Upgrading the housing stock and insulating properties will also be crucial, and in some cases, a full property overhaul may be necessary to meet the new standards.”