Dunfermline Damp and Mould: Abbey-Town Core, Victorian Tenements and New-Build Growth

Dunfermline is Fife's largest town and a former Scottish capital, with a historic abbey-town core, Victorian tenements and a lot of modern new-build growth. The figures below are for the whole of Fife, which has about 18,800 privately rented homes, so they describe the council area rather than Dunfermline itself.

Fife in numbers (compared with Scotland)

• Private rented households: 11.1% (Scotland 12.4%); social rented: 21.9% (Scotland 22.5%)
• Terraced homes: 23.2% (Scotland 18.2%); flats: 24.3% (Scotland 34.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 1.1% (Scotland 2.1%)
• Overcrowded households: 1.8% (Scotland 2.4%)
• Properties at medium flood risk (rivers, sea and surface water combined): 9% (Scotland 12.5%)
• Rainfall: about 1,082 mm a year at Kinross, roughly ten miles away

What stands out in the numbers?

Fife is a low-risk area on several measures: central heating is more widespread than the Scottish average, overcrowding is lower and combined flood risk is below the national figure. The one measure above the Scottish figure is terraced housing, at 23.2% against 18.2%. That points a landlord to the building fabric, particularly in older terraces, rather than to heating or occupancy.

Three kinds of stock

• Abbey-town core: old, solid-walled buildings that may be listed or in a conservation area, so use breathable repairs and check consent
• Victorian tenements: shared roofs, gutters and stonework, so agree responsibility with other owners in writing
• Modern new-build: tighter, better-insulated homes can trap moisture if ventilation is not used, so check extraction and trickle vents, and give tenants clear guidance

A wet climate

Rainfall at the nearest listed station is over a metre a year, so roofs, chimneys and gutters matter even where flood risk is low. Keep them clear and in repair, and look for staining below them after heavy rain.

What landlords must do in Scotland

In Scotland, the Repairing Standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 already requires a private rented home to be free from damp and mould posing a significant health risk. Since 6 October 2026 the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 also require private landlords to investigate reports of damp and mould within set timescales and complete repairs within a reasonable time. A tenant whose landlord does not act can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber).

Awaab's Law as it applies in England does not apply in Scotland, which has its own regulations. For the wider UK picture, see our guide to Awaab's Law and the private rented sector.

To find a specialist, see our Dunfermline damp and mould page, and Fife Council's guidance for homeowners and landlords.