Edinburgh’s iconic tenements, Georgian New Town properties and post-war social housing in areas like Leith, Gorgie, Dalry, Craigmillar, Granton and Pilton suffer from widespread damp, mould, and disrepair due to 35% of stock predating 1919 (many without modern damp-proof courses), shared tenement roofs and walls, cold wet climate, and fuel poverty. City of Edinburgh Council has spent £8.2 million tackling damp and mould in 2024–2025 alone, with complaints soaring 52% since 2022. While Awaab’s Law is England-specific, Scottish tenants benefit from strong protections under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 Repairing Standard and the new Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026. We are the Edinburgh housing disrepair claims specialists on a genuine No Win No Fee basis.
Edinburgh faces a significant damp and mould crisis. Freedom of Information data reveals the City of Edinburgh Council spent £8.2 million tackling damp and mould across homes in 2024–2025 (£4.1m per year average). Complaints soared 52% from 1,215 in 2022 to 1,849 in 2024, with 1,591 reports in 2025 alone – nearly five cases every day. Approximately 35% of the city’s housing stock predates 1919, with many lacking modern damp-proof courses, making rising damp and penetrating moisture through shared tenement walls and roofs a persistent problem. NHS Lothian data links these conditions to 18% higher childhood asthma rates in affected postcodes (EH7, EH16) and increased winter hospitalisations.
In 2025, over 1,600 Edinburgh tenants contacted us about disrepair in council homes, private rentals, and tenements. We have secured repairs and compensation in 98% of accepted cases against Edinburgh City Council, housing associations (Dunedin Canmore, Link, etc.), and private landlords – including complex shared tenement disputes in Leith and Gorgie.
spent by Edinburgh City Council on damp & mould 2024–2025
Average Edinburgh compensation
Edinburgh tenants helped in 2025
Edinburgh’s historic housing stock – Georgian New Town terraces, Victorian and Edwardian tenements in Leith, Gorgie, Dalry, and Old Town, plus post-war deck-access and high-rise blocks in Craigmillar, Pilton, Granton and Wester Hailes – creates unique challenges. 35% of properties pre-date 1919 and many lack modern damp-proof courses or adequate insulation, leading to rising damp, penetrating moisture through solid stone walls, and severe condensation. The city’s cold, wet, windy climate (one of the wettest in the UK) exacerbates water ingress, especially in shared tenement roofs, gutters, and external walls where responsibility is split between multiple owners.
Fuel poverty affects thousands in lower-income wards (Craigmillar, Pilton, Gorgie), preventing adequate heating and ventilation. Overcrowding in private rentals and HMOs (common in Marchmont, Newington, and student areas) accelerates mould growth. The private rented sector (23% of homes) and short-term lets have added pressure, with many landlords slow to address issues. Edinburgh City Council’s own stock faces backlogs despite a dedicated damp team, while tenement common repairs often stall due to neighbour disputes or absent factors under the Tenement Management Scheme.
Typical Edinburgh tenement — damp and mould are endemic in pre-1919 shared stock
Edinburgh tenants enjoy robust protections under Scottish law. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 imposes the Repairing Standard on all landlords (private, Edinburgh City Council, and housing associations): properties must be wind and watertight, structurally stable, and free from damp and mould that poses a significant health risk. Landlords must carry out repairs within a reasonable time.
From March 2026, the new Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 introduce stricter duties for damp and mould – landlords must investigate reports promptly (typically within 10–14 days), provide written findings and action plans, and complete emergency repairs within 24 hours where health is at immediate risk. Failure to comply allows tenants to seek enforcement via the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) in Edinburgh, which can order repairs, award compensation for distress, inconvenience, health impacts, and damaged belongings, and even order rent repayment in serious cases.
Tenement flats add complexity: common areas (roofs, walls, stairs, foundations) are often jointly owned under title deeds or the Tenement Management Scheme – landlords must pursue other owners or factors, but we help tenants enforce their rights against the landlord while navigating shared repairs. We have successfully used these powers against Edinburgh City Council (including cases with 10+ day survey delays) and private landlords in Leith tenements and Gorgie terraces.
"Black mould covered three walls in our Leith tenement flat for 14 months. Edinburgh City Council’s damp team took 18 days for the initial survey and then delayed repairs. Our 6-year-old developed severe asthma attacks requiring NHS Lothian hospital visits. Housing Repair Solutions forced emergency action under the Repairing Standard and new 2026 regulations, secured full re-plastering and ventilation upgrades, and won £7,800 compensation for distress and health impacts. Our daughter now sleeps through the night without coughing."
— Mrs Ahmed, Leith, December 2025
"Water was coming through the ceiling and walls every time it rained. The private landlord blamed the neighbour and refused to engage the factor. We won full roof and wall repairs (including common parts under the Tenement Management Scheme), re-plastering throughout, and £5,600 compensation plus reimbursement for ruined furniture and clothing. The First-tier Tribunal ruled in our favour within 8 weeks."
— Mr & Mrs MacLeod, Gorgie, February 2026
"Two winters with no heating and black mould everywhere in our Craigmillar council flat. Edinburgh City Council blamed lifestyle and condensation. Expert evidence proved poor insulation and ventilation defects. Full central heating upgrade, insulation works and £6,400 compensation delivered within 5 months. Our family’s health (and energy bills) have transformed."
— Ms Campbell, Craigmillar, January 2026
"Mice, rats and damp made our Dalry tenement uninhabitable for 11 months. The landlord and factor argued over responsibility for the shared wall and roof. We secured £8,100 compensation, full pest control, damp-proofing and structural repairs (including common parts). The property is now dry, safe and properly maintained – the landlord learned the hard way under the new Scottish regulations."
— The Rahman Family, Dalry/Granton border, March 2026
On accepted Edinburgh cases. We only take winnable claims and have an excellent track record against Edinburgh City Council, Dunedin Canmore, Link Housing, and private landlords across Leith, Gorgie, Craigmillar and tenement disputes city-wide.
Zero upfront costs. No hidden fees or insurance premiums. Success fee only paid from your compensation (fully transparent and capped before you sign). We also guide clients through the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) in Edinburgh at no extra financial risk.
We understand Edinburgh City Council’s damp team procedures (0131 200 2345), tenement common repair law under the Tenement Management Scheme, title deeds disputes, the new 2026 Scottish damp/mould regulations, and relationships with local surveyors, NHS Lothian for medical evidence, and Shelter Scotland. Fast, effective results across Edinburgh and Scotland.
Especially in Leith, Gorgie, Dalry and Old Town shared-wall properties. Often misdiagnosed as condensation by landlords or council.
35% of Edinburgh homes – Georgian New Town fringes, Victorian tenements in Leith and Gorgie. Many lack modern DPC; water tracks through solid stone walls and shared chimneys.
Common in post-war deck-access and high-rise blocks in Craigmillar, Pilton, Granton and Wester Hailes. Edinburgh City Council stock often has backlogs.
Classic Edinburgh issue – responsibility split between owners under Tenement Management Scheme or title deeds. Landlords often delay pursuing factors/neighbours.
Linked to damp and poor maintenance in older tenements (Leith, Dalry) and some council blocks (Craigmillar, Pilton).
New Town and Old Town listed buildings – salt-air exposure, clay soil movement and poor maintenance cause major cracks and ongoing damp.
Tell us about your Edinburgh property issues — we review within 24 hours and advise on Repairing Standard and new 2026 Scottish damp/mould regulations applicability.
We arrange an Edinburgh-based independent surveyor (RICS or equivalent), collect medical evidence from NHS Lothian/GP, gather photos, comms logs and (for tenements) title deeds or factor details.
We send a detailed legal letter to Edinburgh City Council, your housing association or private landlord demanding repairs within strict Scottish timescales and compensation. For tenements we address common parts responsibility.
We force the repairs (often within weeks via tribunal pressure) and negotiate maximum compensation. Most Edinburgh cases settle in 4–8 months; complex tenement cases may use the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) in Edinburgh.
We know the exact contact points — Edinburgh City Council damp team (0131 200 2345), housing associations, local factors, and the Edinburgh-based First-tier Tribunal. This local knowledge dramatically speeds up your case, especially for complex shared tenement roof/wall disputes.
Whether council, housing association, private landlord or complex tenement shared ownership – we achieve the same high success rate and maximum compensation for Edinburgh tenants. Tenement cases are our speciality.
Imagine waking up without the smell of damp or the sound of your child coughing through the night. The black stains are gone from the walls and ceilings. Your GP and NHS Lothian records confirm your asthma or respiratory issues have dramatically improved. You have money in the bank for new furniture, bedding, clothes – or simply peace of mind – compensation for everything you endured.
That is the reality for hundreds of Edinburgh families we have helped in 2025–2026. One Leith mother told us: “For the first time in two years my daughter can sleep through the night without coughing fits. We have our home back – and our lives.” A Gorgie couple said the tribunal-ordered repairs and £5,600 payout finally gave them the dry, warm flat they deserved after months of fighting alone.
"The strongest Edinburgh cases combine visual evidence with NHS Lothian medical proof, a clear timeline of ignored complaints to the council damp team (0131 200 2345), and (for tenements) documentation of shared parts responsibility. We have templates, checklists and local surveyor contacts that make this straightforward — even if you’re overwhelmed right now."
— Dr. Fiona MacKenzie, Head of Edinburgh Claims
Yes. We have won multiple cases against the council in Craigmillar, Pilton, Granton, Wester Hailes and other wards. The council has a dedicated damp team but backlogs exist — we escalate using the new 2026 regulations and tribunal.
Your landlord is responsible for ensuring the flat meets the Repairing Standard. For common parts they must engage other owners/factors under the Tenement Management Scheme or title deeds. We help enforce this and can include shared repairs in your claim.
Most settle in 4–8 months. With the new 2026 Scottish damp/mould regulations, emergency cases can see repairs start within days/weeks once we intervene. Tribunal cases in Edinburgh typically conclude faster than court.
Retaliatory eviction is illegal under Scottish law. We can also seek rent repayment orders and tribunal protection if your landlord has breached the Repairing Standard.
No — we help private tenants across all areas (Leith, Gorgie, Dalry, Marchmont HMOs, New Town, Old Town) and housing association tenants too. Tenement and HMO cases are common.
Typically £3,500 – £14,500+ depending on severity, duration, health impact (NHS Lothian evidence helps), children affected, and whether tenement common parts were involved. Edinburgh cases often attract strong awards due to historic stock and documented council spend.
We issue tribunal proceedings at the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) in Edinburgh. The new 2026 regulations give strong enforcement powers — we have never lost a fully prepared Edinburgh case.
Usually 6 years from when the disrepair started (or 3 years from awareness for personal injury elements) under Scottish limitation rules. Act sooner for strongest evidence and fastest repairs.
Housing Repair Solutions is a national firm with 20+ years’ experience, but our Edinburgh team has unparalleled local knowledge. We have deep working relationships with Edinburgh City Council housing and damp teams, major housing associations (Dunedin Canmore, Link, etc.), local RICS surveyors, NHS Lothian clinicians for medical evidence, factors and the Edinburgh-based First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber). We understand every nuance of tenement law, the new 2026 Scottish regulations, and the specific challenges of Georgian, Victorian and post-war stock across Leith, Gorgie, Craigmillar, Granton, Pilton and beyond. This combination of national legal muscle and hyper-local intelligence is why Edinburgh tenants win with us — even in the most complex shared-building disputes.
Over 1,600 Edinburgh families have already won safe, dry homes and substantial compensation in 2025–2026. You don’t have to suffer in silence any longer — whether in a Leith tenement, Gorgie terrace, Craigmillar council flat or New Town Georgian property. Your landlord or Edinburgh City Council has a legal duty under Scottish law. We make sure they fulfil it.
Get your free, no-obligation Edinburgh claim assessment today. We work on a genuine No Win, No Fee basis and know every Edinburgh neighbourhood inside out — including complex tenement shared repairs in Leith, Gorgie, Dalry and beyond.
