Public Health - Housing Conditions

• General Information
• What is the Tolerable Standard?
• What Happens if a House Fails to Reach the Tolerable Standard?
• Contact Details

General Information

The condition of houses is mainly enforced through Housing legislation.  The tolerable standard is a list of the minimum requirements that a house has to meet in order for it to be fit for human habitation and is defined in Section 86(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.  The standard was updated by Section 6(102) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

What is the Tolerable Standard?

The house will meet the tolerable standard if:

• Structurally stable
• Substantially free from rising and penetrating damp
• Has satisfactory provision for natural and artificial light, for ventilation and for heating
• Has an adequate piped supply of wholesome water available within the house
• Has a sink provided with a satisfactory supply of both hot and cold water within the house
• Has a fixed bath or shower and a wash hand basin each provided with a satisfactory supply of both hot and cold water and suitably located within
• Has a water closet available for the exclusive use of the occupants of the house and is suitably located within the house
• Has an effective system for drainage and disposal of foul and surface water
• Has satisfactory facilities for cooking of food within the house
• Has satisfactory access to all external doors and outbuildings.

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What Happens if a House Fails to Reach the Tolerable Standard?

Where houses are found to fail the tolerable standard, a Closing or Demolition Order can be served to prevent the occupation of the property.

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