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

They all now face criminal prosecution and fines of up to £50,000 if they ignore the decision of city council licensing bosses and continue to let their properties.

Five of the landlords own property in the Govanhill enhanced enforcement area which allows council officers to impose higher standards of regulation on all landlords operating in the area.

In all five cases, they failed to provide a range of certificates including an enhanced criminal record check, buildings insurance, energy performance, gas safety and confirmation tenants received tenant information packs.

There were also concerns about the condition of the properties following inspections carried out by council staff.

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

City council leader Frank McAveety said the decision of the licensing committee was a significant contribution to the wider effort to bring lasting change to Govanhill.

He added: "Members of the private landlord registration team deserve great credit for bringing these cases forward.

"The diligence of the 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 responsibility seriously and have brought the area down.

"Thanks to the powers the council secured through the formation 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 our 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 a 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 Street.

Tauheed Hussain also owns a property in Langside Road as well as other parts of the south side of Glasgow.

Johan Mirza, who was convicted of assault with intent to rape and operating flats below the tolerable standard, owns properties in Allison Street, Boyd Street and Jamieson Street as well as another on Bath Street in the 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 committee on the basis of criminal convictions. They were Francis Green, Jamil Ahmed and Graham Mills.

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, today (29 Nov) reacted to news that six landlords in the Govanhill area of Glasgow have been barred by the city council and will now face criminal prosecution. The landlords failed to provide a range of certification including an enhanced criminal record check, buildings insurances, energy performance, gas safety and confirmation that tenants received tenant information packs. Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, said: "It is good to see Glasgow City Council finally taking action against rogue landlords who have continually failed to ensure their property is fit for tenants to live in and ensure their safety, in an area of the city that has been blighted by housing issues for many years. "What matters now is safeguarding any current tenants still living in properties owned by the landlords in question who may now be facing eviction or homelessness in the weeks before Christmas. These landlords are the ones who should suffer the consequences, not their tenants. The management of the properties should be handed over to a local housing association which can be trusted to act responsibly. "In the longer term, we won't see robust treatment of rogue landlords and letting agents unless we put resources into enforcement. That means supporting local authorities to do their jobs, instead of squeezing their budgets ever tighter."