Nine Landlords Banned from Letting Homes in Glasgow
Nine private landlords have been banned from letting rental homes in the Govanhill area of Glasgow, after being found unfit to rent out properties.
The bans were imposed as a consequence of an Enhanced Enforcement Area (EEA) in Govanhill, which was initially established in four blocks in September 2015 through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, which gives Glasgow City Council special powers to crack down on any rogue landlords operating within the designated area.
The landlords now face criminal prosecution and fines of up to £50,000 if they attempt to let their properties.
One landlord was letting a property that was unfit for human habitation, with faulty electrics, no hot water, a broken toilet and holes in the floor. The other eight landlords with properties within the EEA all failed to provide a range of certification, including an enhanced criminal record check, building insurance, Energy Performance Certificates, gas safety and confirmation that tenants had received an information pack.
Councillor Mhairi Hunter comments on the bans: “The EEA means the Council has the right to demand high standards from landlords working in Govanhill, otherwise they will ultimately be taken to task.
“But the EEA has also provided a platform for better overall engagement with landlords, and that has led directly to a substantial improvement in housing conditions, a big increase in the number of closes being factored and a drop in anti-social behaviour.”
Landlords with properties in the Glasgow area must be aware that the EEA is due to be rolled out across a further 14 blocks in southwest Govanhill.
We remind all landlords in the UK to comply with the laws governing the private rental sector, to ensure that you provide safe, secure and comfortable housing for your tenants, while ensuring that you don’t get caught out by penalties!
We have created some handy and comprehensive guides to help you stick to your responsibilities – they can be accessed for FREE here: /guides/