6 Govanhill landlords struck off

Six Govanhill landlords have been barred from the landlord register after being found unfit to rent out property.

Following a series of decisions at a meeting of Glasgow City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee, all six landlords now face criminal prosecution and fines of up to £50,000 if they attempt to let their property

Five of these landlords own property within the Govanhill Enhanced Enforcement Area, which has allowed council officers to impose higher standards of regulation on all landlords operating within the area.

In all five cases, the landlords failed to provide a range of certification that includes an enhanced criminal record check, buildings insurances, energy performance, gas safety and confirmation that tenants received tenant information packs. There were also concerns relating to the condition of the properties following inspections carried out by council officers.

The sixth landlord was barred from the register following his conviction for assault with intent to rape and for letting properties that failed to meet the tolerable standard expected for rented homes.

All decisions followed submissions to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee by the council’s Private Landlord Registration Unit, which has the responsibility for maintaining the landlord register for the Glasgow City area.

Councillor Frank McAveety, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, welcomed the decisions by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee as a significant contribution to the wider effort to bring lasting change to Govanhill.

Councillor McAveety said: "Members of the Private Landlord Registration team deserve great credit for bringing these cases forward. The diligence of the landlord registration team has led directly to six failing Govanhill landlords being stopped in their tracks.

"There have been too many landlords in Govanhill who have refused to take their responsibilities seriously and have brought the area down. Thanks to the powers the council secured through the creation of the Enhanced Enforcement Area, we are making serious inroads against those landlords who have undermined the Govanhill community.

"Let’s be clear: the Enhanced Enforcement Area allows the council to demand high standards of those who rent out property within the four blocks. Where landlords fail to meet the high standards of the enforcement area they will be brought to book.

"When this new enforcement approach is added to the impact of multi-million pound acquisition programme within the four blocks area, I am fully confident in the long term prospects for Govanhill."

The five landlords who failed to meet the standards of the Enhanced Enforcement Area are: Hamid Akram, Tauheed Hussain, Mohammed Adnan Hussain, Shakeel Shahid and Simon Tsang. Between them, they own seven properties across addresses in Westmoreland St. Tauheed Hussain also owns a property in Langside Road as well as other parts of the southside of Glasgow.

Johan Mirza, who was convicted of assault with intent to rape and operating flats below the tolerable housing standard, owns properties in Allison Street, Boyd Street and Jamieson St as well as another on Bath St in Glasgow city centre.

Three other landlords with properties in other parts of Glasgow were also barred from the Landlord Register at the same meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on the basis of their criminal convictions. These landlords were Francis Green, Jamil Ahmed and Graham Mills.

All of the tenants within all of the properties affected by these decisions have been advised of their rights

• Local News