Further enhancing protections for social housing tenants.
Social housing residents in Scotland will be given greater
protection against issues of disrepair in their homes such as
damp and mould through the introduction of Awaab's Law.
Awaab's Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in
2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale.
The Scottish Government intends to introduce amendments to the
Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden Ministers' powers to
impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair
and start repairs, through regulation, following engagement with
the sector.
The regulations will build on provisions already in the Bill on
strengthening tenants' rights and Scotland's existing legal
protections for social tenants such as the Scottish Housing
Quality Standard and the Right to Repair Scheme.
Social Justice Secretary said:
“Introducing timescales and expectations for repairs aims to make
sure this never happens to a child or their family ever again.
“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.
“However, these measures will go even further and give power and
confidence to tenants that any issues identified and repairs
started in a timely manner, so any issues do not have a
detrimental impact on their health.
“Our Housing Bill already contains proposals to improve tenants'
rights, and these measures will strengthen those even further to
make sure their home is safe for them and their families.”
Background
Housing (Scotland) Bill |
Scottish Parliament Website
Registered social landlords are required to meet the Scottish
Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) which requires housing to be free
from rising or penetrating damp, to have satisfactory ventilation
and meet minimum energy efficiency standards.
Just like the social rented sector, the Scottish Government is
committed to and will consider how to implement Awaab's Law for
private tenants, using existing powers, after engagement with the
private rented sector.
