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Awaab’s Law is the name given to new Scottish damp and mould duties, introduced in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. Damp and mould can harm residents’ health. For landlords, a concern reported by a tenant or spotted during an inspection now starts a clear process for investigation, written findings and any necessary repairs.

A competent person must investigate within 10 working days of the landlord becoming aware of damp or mould. The tenant must receive written findings within 3 working days of the investigation ending. Where substantial damp or mould is found, required repair work must start within 5 working days of the investigation ending. Private landlords must complete repairs as soon as reasonably practicable; social landlords have a maximum of 20 working days from starting repairs. Quicker duties still apply where required.

Practical next step: Record the date the issue was reported, arrange the investigation and keep findings, communications and repair records together.

Read Scottish Government guidance

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a property’s energy performance and is normally needed when it is marketed for sale or let. Scotland plans a redesigned certificate and rating system. The start date has moved to April 2028, so landlords can continue using the current system for now while checking whether each existing certificate remains valid for the next transaction.

The current EPC system remains in use until spring 2028. The revised regulations provide transitional arrangements for existing certificates used in sales and lettings through to 30 April 2029, with conditions where a property is sold or let again during that period. Separately, the domestic EPC register lodgement fee rises from £2.60 to £6.00 on 31 October 2026. This is the register fee, not the full assessment price.

Practical next step: Check your existing certificate and plan assessments around an actual sale, letting or expiry. The reform timetable alone does not mean you need an immediate replacement EPC.

Read Scottish Government guidance

The Repairing Standard is the minimum condition a private rented home in Scotland must meet at the start of a tenancy and throughout it. It covers the property’s fabric, installations and safety. The March 2024 expansion added more specific requirements, so a landlord’s routine checks should look beyond obvious repairs and flag matters needing a qualified inspection.

The expanded standard applies to relevant private tenancies from 1 March 2024. Requirements include fixed heating, safely accessible food storage and preparation areas, safe access to common parts, secure common doors that allow escape, and RCD protection. Guidance requires checking for lead pipes between the boundary stopcock and kitchen tap; where this cannot be confirmed, a water quality test is required. Electrical safety inspections are needed at least every five years, and earlier where the report requires it.

Practical next step: Use a property inspection to record visible condition and maintenance needs, and arrange competent specialist testing where needed. A routine inspection does not replace an EICR or a water quality test.

Read Scottish Government guidance

Scotland requires a consistent level of fire and carbon monoxide protection in homes, including private rentals. Working alarms give occupants earlier warning of fire or a faulty fuel-burning appliance. For landlords, the useful question is whether the right alarms are in the right rooms, linked where required, and still within their service life.

Every Scottish home needs a smoke alarm in the living room or most-used room, smoke alarms in hallways and landings, and a kitchen heat alarm. Smoke and heat alarms must be ceiling-mounted and interlinked, subject to the published guidance for open-plan layouts. A carbon monoxide detector is also needed in the same room as a carbon-fuelled appliance such as a boiler or wood burner; gas cookers and hobs are excluded from this requirement. CO alarms do not need to be interlinked with the fire alarms.

Practical next step: Keep a record of the alarm locations and check the manufacturer’s testing and replacement instructions. Review coverage when the layout or appliances change.

Read Scottish Government guidance