ELEVEN landlords in the south side have been given an ultimatum - fix their properties or they will be closed.

In what is described as an "unprecedented" move, improvement procedures have been taken against 13 below standard flats in Govanhill.

Following complaints from residents, homes in the area were inspected and slum conditions found by council staff.

Residents had no access to hot, running water, inadequate washing and cooking facilities, faulty electrics, water leaks and unsanitary drainage.

Now, landlords have been served notices telling them to repair the problems or properties will be closed and the landlord removed from the landlord’s register.

Councillor George Redmond, the council’s Executive Member for Jobs, Business and Investment, said: "Having so many active improvement procedures in place against specific properties at the same time in such a relatively small area is unprecedented.

"That so much work needs to be done does highlight how neglectful landlords in Govanhill have been in recent years.

“But we now have an increasing array of tools at our disposal and that is allied to a clear determination to deal with poor quality housing in the area."

Targeting below tolerable standard housing comes as a part of a wider initiative to improve housing standards in the Govanhill area.

Last year Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government announced a £9.3million acquisition programme for Govanhill Housing Association to bring up to 80 flats into the social rented sector.

Ultimately they want the local housing association to achieve majority ownership in specific blocks in an effort to ensure these blocks are properly factored.

New housing legislation has meant the council also secured approval from the Scottish Government for Enhanced Enforcement Area powers to be applied to four blocks of tenement flats in the south-west corner of the area.

Under the Enhanced Enforcement Area, the council has acquired stronger powers to regulate landlords and to drive through repairs to problem properties.

The push to drive up standards has also led to 19 landlords being added to the landlord’s register for the first time while a further 32 landlords have been called on to produce certification on gas safety, energy efficiency and insurance.

Factoring services have also been introduced at addresses in the four-block area covered by the enhanced enforcement area.

Some 60 landlords attended a recent landlord’s forum with a further meeting scheduled for mid-February.

A training event for landlords has also been organised for early March and a series of smaller meetings with owners of property within the four blocks targeted by the EEA are being held.

Flats within the four blocks will also benefit the installation of loft insulation.

Mr Redmond added: "Landlords must now be fully aware that we are prepared to take action against those that bring the area down and we are making it increasingly harder for anyone to dodge their responsibility to maintain their property.

“Poor housing standards in Govanhill impact on the residents themselves, neighbours and the wider community but it does seem the message is getting through to landlords that they must play their part too. "We are working to a long term strategy with the aim to bringing lasting change to Govanhill and it is clear progress is being made on a number of fronts."