The City of Edinburgh Council receives around five new mould complaints from council tenants every day, costing a total of £4m per year.
This data comes from a freedom of information request made by home supply specialist Hillarys,
The number of reports have risen by over 50 per cent since 2022, noting 1849 cases in 2024. Response times from the council have averaged six weeks from complaint to resolution, long enough to cause serious complications.
Exposure to black mould is a leading cause of respiratory infections, autoimmune defects, asthma, and even the development of new allergies in severe cases. This issue goes beyond social housing, with students from both purpose-built accommodation and privately-rented flats frequently affected by mould.
Second year student and former Salisbury Court resident, Max, told The Student that “mould was all over my en-suite bathroom,” adding that he was diagnosed with a mould-induced chest infection by the end of the year.
While ventilation and heating can help prevent mould growth to an extent, the frequent disrepair of rental properties explains why students and other private tenants are vulnerable demographics.
According to a gov.uk report, “people living in private or social rented housing are more likely to live in a home with damp and mould than are owner occupiers.”
Scottish statutory guidance for private landlords holds that they are responsible for providing “tolerable living standards” including building insulation, ventilation measures, and working heating.
Many are nevertheless faced with unlawful inaction and neglect, with one student reporting that “mould was absolutely everywhere” in their Newington flat, adding that “the landlord was willing to do nothing about it.”
Starting in October 2026, new housing regulations are meant to hold landlords more accountable for mould in their properties.
The legislation mandates a response to mould complaints within 10 working days, and leaves room for further legal action against uncompliant rentiers.
However, it is unclear whether these regulations will actually improve Edinburgh’s mould crisis.
Edinburgh City Council Building by N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
