DISCLAIMER:
This duty is currently under review and has not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.
Simple terms explainer
Owners of common property - such as shared stairs, passages, or private courts - have a statutory duty to provide and maintain adequate lighting in those areas. This duty applies unless the council has chosen to exercise its own powers to provide and maintain the lighting. If the council does not take on this responsibility, it can issue a formal notice requiring owners to install and maintain lighting to a satisfactory standard. The aim is to ensure safety and visibility in shared access areas, particularly in tenement buildings and other multi-occupancy properties.
Legal status
Discretionary
Duty category
Planning
Housing
Community services
Duty type
Public impact
Social determinant of health
Neighbourhood and environment
Emerging policy and legislation
1
National bodies with shared interest
Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS)
Standards and frameworks
2