Glasgow landlord accused of putting ‘lives at risk’

Nick Amon ran an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) at Rupert Street, Woodlands, as Glasgow’s licensing committee had refused his application for the required licence.

Council officials began enforcement action after receiving a complaint about the five-bedroom property, leading to Mr Amon submitting a fresh bid for a HMO licence. Councillors have now rejected his new application.

Cllr Alex Wilson, who chairs the licensing committee, said: “This came before the committee and we refused it three years ago, but you decided you would just run it anyway?”

Mr Amon, who confirmed he had been operating unlicensed for three years, felt his previous application should have been accepted and said he had another property where a licence had been granted. He added he had been advised not to evict his tenants.

All the paperwork required for a HMO, including fire, electrical and gas safety certificates, was still in position, the landlord argued.

Cllr Wilson said: “You’re running unlicensed, that would mean your insurance etc would be invalid. If that property goes up in flames, you’re looking at jail time.

“You’re putting people’s lives at risk and that is unacceptable. If we refuse an application it’s for a good reason, you don’t just turn round and ignore what the committee has said.

“You could have given your tenants ample opportunity to move out of that property. You could have given them notice to say I’m running unlicensed, you could be putting yourselves at risk by staying here, you have to move out.”

HMO licences are required when a landlord rents their property to three or more people who are not related to one another. It is a criminal offence to operate without a licence. Laws governing HMOs were introduced in 2000 after two young men died in a flat fire on Melrose Street, Woodlands.

Cllr Jim Kavanagh asked Mr Amon: “Do you believe you’re a fit and proper person to hold a HMO as you have operated for three years illegally?

“You have refused to accept the decision of this committee. You ran it illegally while still coining in rent for that premises.”

Mr Amon said he believed he was fit and proper and that the property had been safe.

Cllr Wilson added: “You could have appealed the decision of the committee if you were not happy with it, you didn’t do that, you ran the property illegally and it only came to light because there was a complaint to our HMO unit, so you would be still running it illegally if we hadn’t got a complaint.”