The council is responsible for making sure your accommodation meets legal repair standards and is safe to live in.

Report repair problems to the council. They should make sure repairs are done, or offer you more suitable accommodation.

Repair standards for temporary accommodation

All accommodation must be wind and watertight and meet a basic legal standard called the tolerable standard.

To meet the tolerable standard, your accommodation must:

• be structurally stable

• not have problems with rising or penetrating damp

• have enough natural and artificial light, ventilation, heating, and insulation

• meet electrical safety regulations

It must also have:

• a piped water supply and a working toilet

• a sink with hot and cold water

• a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water

• a working drainage and sewerage system

• cooking facilities or a place you can install them

• a proper entrance that you can access

• suitable smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms

Your accommodation must also meet basic health and safety standards, including fire safety and hygiene regulations.

If your accommodation does not meet the standards, the council has a legal duty to make sure repairs or improvements are done, or to offer you alternative accommodation.

Other repair problems

Check your occupancy agreement to see who's responsible for any repair issues not covered by the standards.

The accommodation provider is usually responsible for minor repairs and maintenance. Your occupancy agreement should say how you can report these.

If it does not say or you do not have an occupancy agreement, ask the council who is responsible.

If your agreement says you have a short Scottish secure tenancy, follow our advice on reporting repairs in social housing.

Report repairs to the council

Report repair problems to your homeless officer or the temporary accommodation team at the council.

You can report repairs by phone, in person or in writing. It's usually best to send an email so there's proof of reporting it.

If the accommodation is not owned by the council, report the repairs to your accommodation provider as well.

Use our letter template to send an email or letter. Copy and paste the sample text and personalise it with your details.

Make a complaint if repairs are not done

Your complaint should say:

• what you're complaining about

• when the problem started

• when and how you reported it

• what you want them to do

It's best to include evidence of the problem, for example:

• photos or videos of the repair problem

• receipts for things you’ve had to replace

• proof that your energy bills have gone up because of the repair problem

• a doctor’s note if your health has been affected

Use our letter template to send an email or letter. Copy and paste the sample text and personalise it with your details.

If repair problems are a risk to your health or safety

You should not have to stay in unsafe accommodation. For example, it could be unsafe if:

• there’s serious damp and mould that’s causing health problems for you or someone in your family

• it does not have proper fire and carbon monoxide alarms

• it has unsafe gas and electrics

Get evidence of health problems from your doctor or community practice nurse if you can. Ask them to write a letter that says:

• what your health problems are

• how they’re being caused or made worse by the repair problems in your accommodation

• why it’s important for your health to be moved to more suitable accommodation

Use our letter template to ask the council to move you to suitable accommodation. Copy and paste the sample text and personalise it with your details.