Social housing residents in Scotland will receive enhanced protection against disrepair issues such as dampness and mold through the introduction of Awaab’s Law.
The legislation is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 following exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.
The Scottish Government plans to amend the Housing (Scotland) Bill to expand Ministers’ powers to impose timeframes on social landlords for investigating and beginning repairs. These regulations will complement existing provisions in the Bill that strengthen tenants’ rights, building upon Scotland’s current legal protections including the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Right to Repair Scheme.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville emphasized: “Introducing timescales and expectations for repairs aims to make sure this never happens to a child or their family ever again.”
She added: “Everyone in Scotland deserves the right to live in a warm, safe and secure home, free from disrepair. We already have a strong set of rights and standards that have been improving in Scotland.”
The measures will provide tenants with greater confidence that identified issues will be addressed promptly before they can impact residents’ health. The Scottish Government has also committed to considering the implementation of Awaab’s Law for private tenants following engagement with the private rented sector.