Edinburgh council ordered to apologise over mould-ridden flats for disabled tenants
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Public service watchdog upholds second complaint against City of Edinburgh Council
City of Edinburgh Council has been ordered to apologise after placing disabled tenants in mould-ridden properties, marking its second upheld complaint in three months.
In the latest case, the council was told it must apologise after a tenancy was offered to a visually impaired tenant who also suffers from other physical and severe mental health difficulties.
The property was described by the complainant–who was acting as a carer for their parent who is the tenant—as having “suspected mould” and that it was poorly decorated and noted safety concerns.
The ombudsman upheld three elements of the complaint—including that the flat failed to meet “required standards, and inspection records were insufficient, with key issues not properly documented”. In a further indictment of the council, the ombudsman said that the council failed to reasonably respond to reports about the condition of the property.
The ombudsman’s decision read: “We found that the council raised works in response to reports of mould and disrepair but these progressed slowly and remained incomplete 12 weeks after C had been given access to the property.
“We found that works were often addressed piecemeal, with the council on several occasions initially dismissing the concerns before later acknowledging that repairs were required.
“Although the council made efforts to respond, it did not fully acknowledge its role in delays. Additionally, it failed to follow its own process by not ensuring a formal dampness report was provided.”
In June, the council was also told it must apologise after it placed a tenant in a property that damp had spread throughout. A damp survey found that damp had spread throughout the property and that the council had delayed taking action to decant the tenant to begin work.
The tenant—who suffered from chronic health conditions, including respiratory issues—was “severely impacted” by the damp. Works were not completed until almost a year after the complaint had been made.
When the ombudsman investigated it was discovered that the property had longstanding problems with dampness—which had not been addressed prior to taking the tenancy. City of Edinburgh Council had been recommended to install a damp proof course four years before the tenant moved in.
The council’s response to the tenant's concerns was also described as “dismissive and unreasonably slow”.
The ombudsman’s report said: “We were critical of the council’s response to C’s concerns, particularly given that they were aware of C’s disabilities. We found that the council’s response was dismissive and unreasonably slow. We were critical of the council’s complaints handling. We found that their response was delayed and was lacking in detail and empathy. It provided no explanation for the delays in addressing the substance of C’s complaint. We also noted the significant disruption caused by the requirement to decant, with the remedial works taking almost nine months. We upheld C's complaint.”
Paul McFadden, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, said: “Everyone has the right to live in safe and suitable housing. These cases reflect a growing number of complaints we are receiving about damp and mould in social housing and highlight the importance of taking reports of mould seriously, communicating effectively with tenants, and acting without unnecessary delay when problems are identified.
“We have made recommendations to improve service delivery, and my team will monitor their implementation.”
In a recent Freedom of Information request response, City of Edinburgh Council detailed the extent of the damp and mould problem within its housing stock. Between January 2024 and December 2025, there were 3,671 reports received of issues in residential properties.
Those issues left the council with a more than £8 million bill over the course of the two years. In 2024, the total expenditure was £4,098,572 followed by £4,141,125 in 2025.
City of Edinburgh Council has been approached for comment.