Home Damp and mould removal Edinburgh
Damp and mould removal in Edinburgh
A proper survey finds out where the moisture is coming from before anything is treated. We pass your request to damp specialists who cover Edinburgh.
In an Edinburgh tenement, damp can come from almost anywhere: a blocked rhone on the roof, a cracked downpipe, a leaking bath upstairs or condensation from drying clothes. The fix depends on which one it is, and often more than one is going on at once.
Be wary of anyone who proposes injecting a damp-proof course into a stone tenement before checking for leaks. True rising damp is much rarer than water coming in from above or from the side.
Edinburgh at a glance
- Private renting
- 22.5% of City of Edinburgh households rent from a private landlord or letting agency, the highest share of any Scottish council area and well above the 12.4% Scottish average. Source
- Homes that are flats
- 63.2% of Edinburgh households live in a flat, maisonette or apartment, against 34.4% across Scotland. Source
- Age of homes
- Only 57% of Edinburgh dwellings were built after 1945, the joint lowest share in Scotland with Glasgow (72% nationally). Source
If you rent
Edinburgh has the highest share of private renting in Scotland, 22.5% of households. Since 6 October 2026, Scottish landlords must have damp and mould investigated by a competent person within 10 working days of becoming aware of it, give you a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation, and start any repair within 5 working days.
Private landlords must then finish the repair as soon as reasonably practicable. Report the problem in writing with photos, and keep a copy.
Shared repairs
If the cause is in the common parts, such as the roof, gutters or stonework, all the owners usually share the cost. A property factor can organise it. Where there is no factor, the Tenement Management Scheme lets a majority of owners agree repairs.
Day-to-day prevention
Keep rooms at a steady, moderate temperature, run extractor fans, dry washing near an open window or vent, and keep furniture off outside walls. Our guides to window condensation and removing mould from walls cover the details.
Edinburgh homes and what they need
Stone tenement flats
Top-floor flats suffer from roof and gutter leaks; ground floor flats from blocked drains and raised ground levels outside. Middle floors mostly see condensation.
Interwar and postwar suburban semis
Cold corners in bedrooms and bathrooms are typical. Topping up loft insulation and adding a bathroom fan usually help.
Georgian and Victorian main-door flats and townhouses
Basements and lower ground floors can take damp from the street. Lime-based plaster and paint let the walls dry out; modern gypsum and plastic paint can trap it.
Areas covered
Engineers who cover Edinburgh work across areas including Leith, Morningside, Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, Portobello, Corstorphine, Gorgie, Musselburgh and Dalkeith.
Questions people in Edinburgh ask
My letting agent says it is just condensation. What can I do?
Ask for the investigation the new rules require. If the problem continues, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.
Does a dehumidifier fix mould?
It lowers humidity in one room and helps while you sort the cause. It will not stop water coming in through a roof, wall or pipe.
Sources
- Scottish Government: Awaab's Law guidance for landlords in Scotland
- Scotland's Census 2022, table UV404
- mygov.scot: Repair standards if you're a private tenant
Also nearby: Damp and mould removal in Glasgow, Damp and mould removal in Dundee