Inverness Damp and Mould: Highland Heating Gaps, Stone Terraces and a Growing Rental Market

In Highland, 3.1% of households have no central heating, against 2.1% across Scotland. Inverness has a smaller and more varied private rented stock than Scotland's big cities, mixing older stone-built terraces in the centre with modern suburban housing on the edges, and rapid population growth has put pressure on it. The figures below cover the whole Highland council area, not Inverness alone.

Highland in numbers (compared with Scotland)

• Private rented households: 10.1% (Scotland 12.4%); social rented: 19.5% (Scotland 22.5%)
• Terraced homes: 14.6% (Scotland 18.2%); flats: 14.1% (Scotland 34.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 3.1% (Scotland 2.1%)
• Overcrowded households: 1.4% (Scotland 2.4%)
• Properties at medium flood risk (rivers, sea and surface water combined): 12% (Scotland 12.5%)
• Rainfall: about 755 mm a year at the Inverness station, roughly a mile away

Cold, not crowded

Overcrowding is well below the Scottish figure, so the moisture load per household is not the likeliest culprit. The heating figure is. Homes that rely on fires, portable heaters or a single warm room leave other walls cold, and condensation forms where warm, moist air meets them. A fixed heating system that reaches every room and decent insulation address the cause.

Older stone properties let without upgrades

Where the rental market is growing fast, some older stone properties are let without the upgrades normally made when a home becomes rental stock. Before letting one, check four things:

• Heating that suits the size and construction of the home
• Loft and, where practical, wall insulation
• Working extraction in the kitchen and bathroom
• Roof, gutters and pointing in good order

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 Inverness damp and mould page.