LEGISLATION
Scotland’s version of Awaab’s Law will soon come into force, initially applying to mould and damp.
The nature of working in pest management, including the ability to enter people’s homes and see what many others do not, gives the sector an important role in improving housing conditions and public health. Even where disrepair isn’t directly pest-related, pest professionals can still have valuable opportunities to help tenants get issues resolved, particularly with the rollout of Awaab’s Law.
Scotland’s version of Awaab’s Law, the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, will come into force on 6 October 2026.
On Friday, 4 September, the Scottish Government’s Local Government and Housing Directorate published guidance for landlords and tenants on the new regulations.
The regulations will apply to both private and social homes, and covers mould and damp only.
The effect of the regulations is similar to measures being introduced in England, giving landlords clear duties and timeframes for investigating and resolving issues in properties.
These duties and timeframes come into play as soon as the landlord becomes aware of an issue in their property. They may become aware through a tenant reporting it directly or through contractors, such as pest technicians.
While the regulations themselves do not place a duty on pest technicians or other contractors to report mould and damp they encounter, doing so can help landlords better understand the condition of their properties and give pest professionals an opportunity to help tenants with more than just pests.
Awaab’s Law elsewhere
Awaab’s Law in England will enter its second phase on 30 November 2026, expanding its scope to cover significant hygiene hazards, including pests.
When first introduced in England in October 2025, it applied to the most serious emergency cases, which needed to be investigated and made safe within 24 hours.
Unlike in Scotland, Awaab’s Law in England currently applies only to social housing.
Wales also introduced its own equivalent to Awaab’s Law in April this year, through an update to the existing Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS), which applies to social housing only.
This update to the WHQS introduced timeframes for action similar to those in England, except for emergency hazards, where social landlords have 24 hours to investigate and a further 24 hours to remedy the problem.
The timeframes under the updated WHQS apply to all Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) hazards, including pests.
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