Slum landlords could lose their properties
MORE than 20 slum landlords in Govanhill face having properties worth £5million seized in a government crackdown.
A council hit squad has been set up with extra powers to tackle the problem. Tenants are being charged up to £500 a month for rooms with no hot water, dangerous wiring, poor sanitation and faulty windows, it was reported yesterday.
In the last nine months, 22 landlords in the area have been banned from renting out properties.
Now, they will be forced to offload the properties under compulsory purchase laws if they do not agree to sell to Glasgow City Council, the Sunday Mail reported.
The local authority is the first in the country to use new Scottish Government laws to set up an Enhanced Enforcement Area (EEA) to target rogues.
The council has set aside £48m to buy up to 500 properties from slum landlords.
The team are part of the council’s housing department and plan to crack down on more landlords in the next few weeks. They have permission to enter proper- ties without permission.
Nicola Sturgeon said: “I welcome the fact that as a result of community, Government and Glasgow Council efforts, rogue landlords are being identified and action is being taken to improve properties in the area.
“Govanhill is a vibrant community and working alongside the new administration in Glasgow and the local community, I will continue to champion improvements in the area.”
Richard Brown, executive director for development and the owner’s regeneration services at Glasgow City Council, is responsible for monitoring all landlords in the city.
He said: “Whenever there is evidence that a landlord is no longer a suitable person to rent out property or they fail to manage their property appropriately, we will always seek to take action.
“Govanhill has been an area of the city where particular problems with landlords have been identified.
“The additional powers available to us through Govanhill’s Enhanced Enforcement Area are helping us to i mprove standards.”
The crackdown using the new EEA powers has so far been limited to four housing blocks in Govanhill under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. It is understood it will be extended to another 14 blocks.
The council plans to buy up slum properties through the Govanhill Acquisition and Repairs Programme.
They will be managed on a day-to-day basis by Govanhill Housing Association.