Awaab’s Law is a new law that came into force in Scotland on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
This law requires all social landlords to:
- investigate reports of damp and mould in their tenants’ homes
- identify the cause and carry out any repairs required within fixed timeframes
- ensure, as far as possible, tenants’ homes remain substantially free from damp and mould.
East Ayrshire Council is a social landlord. It is important that you understand your rights and the Council’s responsibilities under Awaab’s Law.
The new law does not change the work that is already being carried out by the Council that makes sure tenants have safe and secure homes.
The main differences will be the new legal timeframes in place to tackle reports of damp and mould in Council housing, and how you can report damp and mould to the Council.
The new timeframes
When you, or someone on your behalf, reports an issue with damp and mould in your home the Council will have:
- 10 working days to complete its investigations, starting from the day after the issue is reported
- 3 working days to send a written summary of the investigation, starting from the day after the investigation is completed
- 5 working days to start any qualifying repair works required, starting from the day after the investigation is completed
- 20 working days to complete qualifying repair works starting from the day after notification or inspection
Working days are Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
How to report damp and mould
Please do not wait to report an issue. We are here to help.
As soon as damp and mould appears, make a report to the Council’s Tenant Safety and Compliance Team:
You can also tell any East Ayrshire Council employee or elected member, or you can write to the Council to report damp and mould.
Your report will be forwarded directly to the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team.
Out of hours
If you call our out of hours helpline 0345 724 0000, your report will be recorded and assessed.
You will then be contacted to arrange access for the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team Leader to carry out an investigation and ensure your home is safe.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when you report damp and mould?
When the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team records a report of damp and mould, the Team Planner will ask you some questions about your:
- home
- household, and
- if you have a photograph of the area affected, where this is available
This information will help us ensure the investigation and any repair work required are carried out at the earliest opportunity.
Investigations of damp and mould will always be coordinated by the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team. A named Team Leader will be allocated to each case from the first report right through to completion to assure you of a personalised service.
Access to your home
The Team Leader will carry out a whole house inspection to investigate the source of the report.
If you are anxious or concerned about the Team Leader looking around your home, please be assured that the Team Leader is there to help. The inspection will help us determine if there is any damp and mould present and will help inform any proposed work.
All Council employees have photographic identification badges. Please ask to see the Team Leader’s Council badge and, if you are in any doubt, do not allow access. Instead, contact the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team using the contact details above.
If you need to re-arrange access, please contact the Team Planner at the earliest opportunity using the contact telephone number shown.
Damp and mould reports before 6 October 2026
The fixed timeframes set out will only apply to a new report made after 6 October 2026.
If you have previously reported damp and mould before this date, whilst the time limits will not apply, the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team will continue to investigate these reports to identify the cause and carry out any repairs required in your home at the earliest opportunity.
What happens if the Council can't meet these timeframes?
If there are exceptional circumstances that are beyond our control, we may not be able to meet the timescales that are set out, for example:
- where repairs are complex
- where damp and mould are present within common areas and properties affected are not all owned by the Council
- specialist inspections or surveys, materials, works or consents are required and/or there is no contractor availability
- severe weather impacts travel and supply chain
- illness or bereavement (applicable to both landlords and tenants)
- no access is available to the property despite reasonable attempts being made
This list is not exhaustive. If this is the case, we will contact you to confirm the reasons why in writing and will keep in touch with you throughout this process to provide progress updates until we can establish an alternative timescale to start any work.
In the meantime, and in consultation with you, we will take reasonable steps to minimise the effects of damp and mould in your home until full investigations and any repairs required can take place.
If there are no circumstances beyond our control and we fail to meet the timescales set out, the Council will have to pay you compensation to a maximum of £100.
Substantial damp and mould in your home is a qualifying repair under the Right to Repair.
More information about Right to Repair:
Scottish Government: Right to Repair
Housing repairs and maintenance
Can I report other repair work when I contact the Council about damp and mould?
Yes. The Team Planner will record any repair work that you report.
If you report any work that is classed a qualifying repair under the Right to Repair, the Planner will advise you and tell you how long the Council has to complete any qualifying repair work.
Will I receive a copy of the damp and mould investigation findings?
Yes. A written summary will be sent to you by the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team.
The summary will set out:
- the cause of any reported damp and mould
- any work proposed, and
- the anticipated timescale to complete any work, where applicable
You can request to receive the summary in another format, if required.
The Team Leader will discuss the investigation findings with you to make sure you understand it and to offer reassurance and will request your consent to proceed with any work required.
The team will arrange access with you for any work to be carried out and will keep you advised of progress.
After the work is completed will there be another inspection?
Yes. The Team Leader will arrange to inspect any work carried out in your home to sign-off the work once completed and to check you are satisfied with the outcome.
The Team Leader will discuss any follow-up monitoring arrangements that are proposed in your home.
The Team Planner will also contact you three months and 12 months after the work has been completed.
Can I provide feedback after the work has been completed?
Yes. The Team Planner will ask for your feedback once any work has been completed.
We welcome your feedback. It will be used to help inform high standard service delivery and make sure tenants have safe and secure homes.
Can I report suspected damp and mould in my home again?
Yes. Please do not wait to contact the Council if you suspect there is damp and mould in your home again. We are here to help.
Private landlord and private landlord tenant
For further information, private landlords and private rented sector tenants in East Ayrshire can refer to the:
Private landlords who do not meet their requirements or who do not take corrective action to deal with issues within the specified timescale should be referred to:
Dampness issues reported by private rented sector tenants are dealt with by Environmental Health, email: environmentalhealth@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
Advice and information
Advice on how to minimise damp and mould appearing in your home is available from the Tenant Safety and Compliance Team, or visit:
Mould and condensation
Scottish Government: Awaab's Law – guidance for tenants in Scotland – Easy Read version
Welfare Rights Service
The Welfare Rights Service can help with all aspects of benefit advice and information.
You can call the team free on 0800 389 7750 or email welfarerightsservice@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.