Between October and December 2025, Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland delivered more than 13,200 pieces of housing advice to over 5,700 people, highlighting what the organisation describes as a “housing emergency” affecting households in every part of the country.

Temporary accommodation ‘trapping’ families

While overall demand for homelessness advice remained steady, CAS reports an 18% rise in cases involving unsuitable temporary accommodation. Families described living in overcrowded rooms, dealing with damp and mould, and struggling without basic cooking or laundry facilities.

Households with disabled family members were particularly affected. Advice provided to families with a disabled child rose 21%, and cases involving a disabled adult increased 10%. CAS says these households face additional barriers due to accessibility needs, medical equipment and higher living costs, especially in rural and island communities.

One mother, Rania, sought help after her family was placed in a Travelodge for three weeks following racist abuse in their previous home. With no cooking facilities, the family relied on pre-prepared meals and crisis grants. She told advisers she feared her children were not getting healthy food and said the experience had disrupted their education and caused severe financial stress.

CAS is urging the next Scottish Government to accelerate the Housing Emergency Action Plan, prioritising the supply of affordable homes and ensuring temporary accommodation meets the needs of disabled people.

Damp and mould cases surge across all housing types

Demand for advice on damp and mould rose 13% overall, with the sharpest increases among private renters (+40%) and housing association tenants (+35%).

CAS said the link between damp, poor energy efficiency and fuel poverty is “irrefutable”, warning that many people live in the coldest homes while facing the highest energy bills.

Nina, a private renter, waited months for an inspection after reporting black mould. When the inspection finally took place, it confirmed the roof needed replacing — but her landlord refused to carry out repairs until the following summer. She and her young child remain in unsafe conditions.

CAS is calling for urgent implementation of Awaab’s Law in Scotland, alongside stronger enforcement and protections for tenants who fear retaliation for reporting problems.

Local Housing Allowance freeze pushing renters into debt

A deep dive into Local Housing Allowance (LHA), the UK Government-set rate intended to make private rents affordable, found that in many areas of Scotland, properties within LHA rates are “rarely available”.

Because LHA has been frozen in real terms since 2020, and will remain so until 2026–27, even the cheapest rents often exceed what low-income households receive.

Private renters seeking help with rent arrears now carry almost twice as much debt as social tenants, according to CAS.

Demand for advice on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) rose nearly 10% year-on-year, with 1,100 people seeking support in Q3 alone.

One single parent, Lena, discovered that her Universal Credit housing element would not cover the rent on a modest two-bedroom home, despite choosing a property in a low council tax band. She was told she might qualify for DHP but that the support is not guaranteed. The uncertainty has left her anxious about securing a stable home for her child.

CAS says the UK Government must urgently review and uprate LHA as part of its ongoing Universal Credit review.

Unexpected factoring bills leaving homeowners out of pocket

Advice on property factoring rose 39% compared with the same period last year. CAS’s webpage on property factors received more than 18,000 views.

Many homeowners reported unexpected or poorly explained charges.

Gino, a pensioner, received a bill for more than £1,700 for stair lighting replacement in his mixed-tenure block. When he asked for an itemised breakdown, he was told the information was “confidential”. He told advisers he had no idea how he would afford the bill.

CAS is calling for stronger regulation of property factors and clearer guidance on their responsibilities.