Social housing tenants in Scotland could be left vulnerable to mouldy living conditions due to poor training and awareness among landlords, a leading figure has warned.
One in three Scottish tenants say they lack confidence in their landlord’s ability to solve ongoing issues, according to new survey data.
Awaab’s Law, which places stricter requirements on landlords, is set to take effect in England this October, with Scotland preparing to follow.
George Edwards, Managing Director of Timberwise, highlighted the scale of the problem. 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,” Mr Edwards added. “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.”
One of the key issues, according to Mr Edwards, is 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.
“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.”
For more information, visit Timberwise.
