SCOTS landlords will be forced to fix mouldy properties within weeks under laws announced today.
The introduction of Awaab’s Law will offer those in social housing greater protections over disrepair such as damp and mould.
The regulation is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died due to health complications caused by the severe amount of black mould in his family home in Rochdale.
The toddler had celebrated his second birthday just a week before he died from a respiratory condition in 2020.
His parents had previously complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing about the severe mould problem in their one-bedroom flat.
Housing campaigners subsequently demanded changes to the law.
The UK Government announced reforms in England last year to force social landlords to repair all emergency hazards within strict timeframes. They are due to take effect from October.
The SNP Government now intends to introduce amendments to its Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden powers via regulation to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair and start repairs.
The regulations will strengthen tenants’ rights and Scotland's existing legal protections for social tenants such as the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Right to Repair Scheme.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, said: "Introducing timescales and expectations for repairs aims to make sure this never happens to a child or their family ever again.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/AkaalCnp32ddFHCqM8sys/7272647477.jpg]
"Everyone in Scotland deserves the right to live in a ...
The introduction of Awaab’s Law will offer those in social housing greater protections over disrepair such as damp and mould.
The regulation is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died due to health complications caused by the severe amount of black mould in his family home in Rochdale.
The toddler had celebrated his second birthday just a week before he died from a respiratory condition in 2020.
His parents had previously complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing about the severe mould problem in their one-bedroom flat.
Housing campaigners subsequently demanded changes to the law.
The UK Government announced reforms in England last year to force social landlords to repair all emergency hazards within strict timeframes. They are due to take effect from October.
The SNP Government now intends to introduce amendments to its Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden powers via regulation to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair and start repairs.
The regulations will strengthen tenants’ rights and Scotland's existing legal protections for social tenants such as the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Right to Repair Scheme.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, said: "Introducing timescales and expectations for repairs aims to make sure this never happens to a child or their family ever again.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/AkaalCnp32ddFHCqM8sys/7272647477.jpg]
"Everyone in Scotland deserves the right to live in a ...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 18, 2025