Lack of landlord training could leave tenants across Scotland vulnerable to mould
A serious gap in landlord training and understanding could put social housing tenants across Scotland at risk of living in mould-infested homes, a leading expert has warned.
A recent survey revealed one-third of Scottish social housing tenants lack confidence their landlords will resolve ongoing issues.
Landlords will also face new rules with the roll out of Awaab’s Law.
The Law comes into effect in England at the end of October, and Scotland will follow at a date to be confirmed.
George Edwards, the Managing Director of Timberwise, says more work and education is required in this area.
He said: “There’s a major skills gap. Social housing providers have been slow to prioritise damp and mould issues, and too often unqualified contractors, selected based on cost, fail to deliver on their promises. Temporary fixes, like simply cleaning mould, are common, but they don’t address the root causes. This leads to recurring problems and frustrated tenants.”
Mr Edwards warned the sector is struggling to find enough qualified experts to meet the legal requirements.
“The challenge is huge,” Mr Edwards added. “Social housing landlords need to act now to ensure they have the capacity to implement long-term, sustainable solutions. If they don’t, we risk seeing continued tenant frustration and a lack of confidence in landlords’ ability to tackle damp and mould.”
One of the key issues, according to Mr Edwards, is landlords’ failure to understand the full range of factors that contribute to condensation, which in turn causes mould.
He said: “Effective solutions require a holistic approach, considering occupancy patterns, heating regimes, and ventilation systems.
“Landlords must be proactive and consider modern, energy-efficient solutions such as positive pressure ventilation units, automatic mechanical ventilation systems, and data logging technology to monitor performance.
Upgrading the housing stock and insulating properties will also be crucial, and in some cases, a full property overhaul may be necessary to meet the new standards.”
For more information, visit Timberwise
