On 6 October 2026, Awaab’s Law came into force in Scotland, introducing new requirements for landlords to investigate and address damp and mould in rented properties. Officially known as the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, the law applies to both social and private rented housing, whereas in England, it currently applies to social housing providers.
Many FMB members provide property maintenance and refurbishment services for private landlords and social housing providers. The new requirements could therefore generate more work for builders and installers across Scotland.
For one FMB member, the impact has already been felt, with new enquiries coming in just a day after the legislation took effect.
Awaab’s Law is already generating work for Scottish builders
I caught up with Jim Gilmour, FMB Scotland Board member and Director of member company ODC Ltd. The business specialises in delivering building treatments through damp surveys, damp proofing and dry rot treatment.
Jim told me:
This law is long overdue, and it will be a great thing for people’s health. Within one day of it being enacted, our business has already received requests to survey properties with the law cited as the reason. My message to FMB members is that even if you aren’t working for councils or housing associations, there will be many small-scale private landlords across the country who will need reliable contractors to repair and refurbish their properties.”
What Awaab’s Law means for contractors and installers
Guidance for landlords and tenants was published by the Scottish Government ahead of the legislation going live. The key points for builders and installers are
- That landlords must ensure reports of damp or mould are investigated promptly.
- Investigations and repairs must be carried out by someone with the relevant skills and experience.
- The necessary repairs must tackle the root cause of the damp or mould and not just treat the symptoms.
Whilst there are differences for social and private landlords with regards to the timescales of when the repairs must be completed, the key point is that the investigation and the repairs must be conducted by a competent person. The guidance does not stipulate specific qualifications but includes a suggestion that landlord look for people with a background in building surveying, housing maintenance, environmental health, construction, property inspection or related fields.
The new rules also introduce deadlines for investigating damp and mould and starting necessary repairs. This means landlords may need contractors who can respond quickly, carry out competent assessments and address the underlying causes of problems within the required timescales.
Landlords, both social and private, will be seeking competent and reputable firms to deliver the work to their properties. As accredited builders, I expect members will receive enquiries from building surveying consultancies or directly from landlords.
Almost one million rented homes in Scotland could be affected
Scotland has an estimated 2.73 million dwellings (residential buildings). Taking both the numbers of private sector dwellings at around 349,0001 and those from the social sector 638,0002 there are just under 1 million dwellings in scope of Awaab’s law.
Awaab’s Law also affects builders who are landlords
A final word from Jim: “I’ve met FMB members who as well as running a building company also rent out one or two properties. So, if you are a landlord as well as a builder, take heed of this new law.”
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland
