A Glasgow landlord has lost an application to renew an HMO licence after inspections found a series of fire safety problems at a rental property on Sauchiehall Street.
The property was being rented to five people across five rooms when it was inspected by Glasgow City Council’s HMO team and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire service did not support the landlord’s application for a renewed licence, with concerns about the safety of the property remaining unresolved.
Glasgow’s licensing committee subsequently refused the application, saying a substantial fire risk remained.
Fire doors and escape routes among concerns
According to the BBC, firefighters identified several problems during an inspection in February.
Some fire doors did not close fully within their frames, while items including clothes dryers were found obstructing escape routes through hallways.
Inspectors also found that tenants had not been provided with fire safety information.
Candles and door wedges were among the items noted during the inspection, while coat hangers were found on the backs of fire doors.
The inspection also identified excessive combustible materials in areas including the utility room and shower rooms.
Further problems found during second inspection
A second inspection in September found that some of the problems had not been resolved.
Extraction fans were reported to be covered with dust or grease, while some fire doors still did not close properly.
Inspectors also found excessive gaps around the bottom of some doors.
Other concerns raised during the earlier inspection included the absence of an electrical installation condition report and holes in walls and ceilings.
The BBC reported that the letting agent said several repair quotes had previously been sent to the landlord but had been rejected.
The agent said contractors had subsequently attended the property to provide quotes for the required work and that inspections of the agency’s HMOs were being increased.
Committee questions why tenants were living there
The licensing committee heard that tenants had left the property in May before new tenants moved in during August.
The letting agent said they believed the deficiencies had been addressed at that time.
However, committee chairman Alex Wilson questioned why tenants had been placed in the property when concerns over its safety remained.
He told the agent representing the landlord that tenants had been put into a property that was not safe, according to the BBC.
Wilson also said inspectors had identified a large number of deficiencies during the February inspection and that many remained when the property was checked again in September.
HMO licences protect tenants in shared properties
A House in Multiple Occupation, or HMO, is a property occupied by three or more people from more than one household who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
In Scotland, landlords operating certain HMOs must obtain a licence from their local authority.
Licensing allows councils to assess whether properties meet required standards and whether landlords and managers are suitable to operate an HMO.
Fire safety is an important part of the assessment because multiple households may be living in the same property.
Licence application refused
Following the inspections, Glasgow’s licensing committee refused the application to renew the HMO licence.
The committee said a substantial fire risk remained at the property.
The decision means the landlord was unable to obtain the licence needed to continue operating the property as an HMO under the applicable licensing requirements.
The case highlights the role of local authorities and fire safety inspections in monitoring properties where multiple tenants share accommodation.
Rental safety remains a key concern
The Glasgow case also shows why landlords and letting agents need to address safety problems identified during inspections.
Fire doors, escape routes, electrical safety and ventilation can all play an important role in protecting people living in shared accommodation.
For tenants, the condition of a property can have direct consequences for their safety, particularly where several households are sharing the same building.
The Glasgow licensing committee’s decision followed two inspections in which concerns were identified and, according to the BBC’s report, a number of those issues remained unresolved.
Source: BBC News.
