New Scottish rental regulations have come into force, introducing tighter duties for landlords and letting agents on damp and mould, changes to tenancy succession rules, and higher financial penalties for wrongful termination of a Private Residential Tenancy. Industry bodies are urging agents to ensure their compliance processes, record-keeping and contractor arrangements are ready for the new requirements.
The Government has launched a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law beyond social housing to the private rented sector, with potential coverage also for certain temporary, supported and care-related housing. The proposal would impose legally binding deadlines for landlords to address dangerous damp and mould, building on existing duties to deal with serious health and safety hazards.
A landlord was fined £28,500 after a property occupied by a vulnerable household was found to have serious disrepair, including damp and mould, no heating or hot water, and electrical hazards. The case involved enforcement action by Durham County Council, including an improvement notice and prosecution for failure to obtain selective licences for multiple properties.
