Landlord who rented out ‘unsafe’ flats could face criminal charges
DEATH-TRAP landlord Harpal Singh could face criminal charges for renting out flats without a licence.
In March, he was exposed for illegally renting out his property portfolio, with 14 flats failing basic fire protections. He was banned by the council for renting out flats for life.
That came after he was jailed following a fire in 1999 in one of his flats in Woodlands. Two students – James Fraser and Daniel Heron – died.
A sheriff ruled the young men would likely have all lived if there had been a working smoke alarm and if they were not sealed into the house with metal bars over the windows.
Mr Singh had applied to be a landlord again in 2013, but Glasgow City Council’s investigations revealed he had continued to operate unfit properties illegally.
He has now has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for operating two unlicensed HMO flats and rent penalty notices are being enforced by the council.
Alex Wilson, convener of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: “I think any criminal charges brought against rogue landlords are only to the betterment of the city and the honest people who are running HMOs in a proper fashion, who take into consideration health and safety and public wellbeing.
“If it helps bring these rogue landlords to task, albeit. It’s good for the city and good for the public.”
Mr Singh appeared before the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on March 28 where councillors condemned his actions.
He had applied to be a landlord again in 2013 and since then council officers had been building a case against him.
They visited his 14 flats and found them to be lacking in basic fire safety equipment.
Now, Glasgow City Council is formally serving the rent penalty notices which make it an offence to generate an income from renting the flats out.
A council spokesman said: “Rent penalty notices have been applied to the relevant properties in this case and there has been no appeal from the landlord concerned.
“Tenants are being advised that these notices mean they are no longer required to pay rent to the landlord or anyone acting on his behalf.”