ARC Building Solutions has urged private and social landlords to recognise the seriousness of damp and mould in homes before the Housing (Scotland) Bill becomes law.
The Housing bill, approved by the Scottish Parliament on 30 September 2025, is now on its way to becoming law. The next formal step is Royal Assent, which is expected to take place in late 2025, and once granted, the bill will officially become the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
This legislation introduces a wide range of new frameworks, including long-term rent controls, tenant protections, homelessness duties, and Awaab’s Law – which originated in England with the aim of tackling damp and mould by setting strict timeframes for landlords to address such issues. Awaab’s Law won’t be implemented in Scotland’s rented sector until March 2026.
Recent data obtained from a freedom of information request showed that reports of damp and mould have soared across Scotland’s social housing sector since 2019-24, from 8,712 to 26,514. This 500% increase highlights the critical need for stronger legal frameworks, like Awaab’s Law, and proactive intervention from landlords to tackle these issues.
In response to this ongoing issue, Dr Alex Boote, product & innovation manager at ARC Building Solutions, commented, “Damp and mould growth is a continuous issue in Scotland’s rented housing stock. Its failure to be effectively addressed by landlords quickly results in serious repercussions for tenants, such as respiratory illnesses, allergic reactions, exacerbation of existing health conditions such as asthma, and poor mental wellbeing caused by cold, uncomfortable living environments.
“Damp is also a seriously underestimated source of structural issues in buildings. Property left vulnerable to damp sets the scene perfectly for decay fungi to grow, which rots away organic materials and leads to structural damage and expensive repairs.”
A survey completed by the Scottish Housing Regulator in 2024-25, revealed that one-third of Scottish social housing tenants lack confidence that their landlords will resolve ongoing issues.
According to Dr Boote, landlords must understand the contributing factors of damp and mould in order to address these hazards correctly – especially as new legislation will bring a sense of urgency. Retrofitting must be approached with particular attention to the eaves, the gap between the roof and the wall.
“Something we often see is that when retrofit activity takes place, much focus is given to insulating walls, roofs, and windows,” he continued. “Although this is a step in the right direction, if the eaves is neglected, cold spots are more likely to form due to the increase of warm indoor air, exacerbating the chances of thermal bridging occurring. And of course, this leads to mould and damp growth and the prospect of detrimental health risks – as well as high energy bills. Continuous insulation around the entire building envelope is vital to the success of retrofit insulation.
“The correct knowledge, paired with the right simple-to-install products, like ARC’s Retrofit Eaves Insulator and Retrofit Wall Plate Insulator, is key to successfully retrofitting insulation in homes, not only to become more energy-efficient but also to make the household safer and healthier for its occupants.
“It is imperative that Scottish landlords act now before Awaab’s Law comes into effect next year. Not only to avoid the financial costs of failing to address damp and mould, but more importantly, to prevent further tragedies linked to these serious issues.”
