New law to force landords to tackle mould in rented properties
Tenants will now have more rights against damp and mould issues.
Last updated 7th Oct 2026
Awaab's Law now means landlords are required to act within days after receiving a report of damp and mould from a tenant.
They must investigate the reported issues, provide written findings and carry out necessary repairs within a stricter timescale.
The law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died after prolonged mould exposure in a property in England.
21-year-old Jake Nelson has experienced these types of issues in his previous flat in Glasgow.
Freezing cold
He told Clyde 1 News that the level of mould in his flat made day-to-day uncomfortable: “The mould on my roof made my room very cold, especially in winter time and was really hard to heat up. I used to come back in quite late from work and my room would be freezing cold but not just a winter cold, a really really freezing cold.”
'The last straw'
He added: “Clothes that I hadn’t used in a while, I noticed had mould down the sleeves. I tried to wash them, but eventually I had to throw some clothes out. That was the point we knew we couldn’t live there, that was kind of the last straw.”
He said that without laws, landlords do not deal with the issues: “The landlord viewed it and did nothing at all. Looking back now, it was really bad, not just from a landlord point of view but from a human point of view.”
He said that if Awaab’s law had been in force when he lived in his flat, it would’ve made things easier: “It would’ve improved my day-to-day life, my health, my happiness. It would’ve meant I was much more comfortable in where I was living."
He added: “It’s definitely a good thing because it holds landlords to account.”
Secretary for social justice and housing, Shirley Anne Somerville said: “Everyone deserves the right to live in a warm, safe and secure home that’s free from disrepair and these Scottish Government regulations mean any reports of damp or mould will need to be swiftfully investigated with landlords required to take appropriate action to tackle the root cause.”
She added: “We’re determined to protect everyone which is why we’re extending these safeguards to those social rented sector and private tenant sector tenants.”
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