RLA : RPI : 'Death trap' landlord 'must be punished'

News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members

other artilces from the February / March 2001 issue

'Death trap' landlord 'must be punished' - February / March 2001

Glasgow landlord Harpal Singh has been fined £500 after admitting three charges of failing to provide safeguards at a flat he owned.

The case against Singh was brought following a fire at a neighbouring property he owned in which two of his tenants died.

'Two young lives were claimed in a tragic fire next door to this property for which you were also responsible. This cannot be tolerated and you must be punished', said Sheriff MacFarlane when passing sentence.

Singh also came in for further severe criticism from McFarlane in his report on the official inquiry into the fire, published this month.

Although the fire had probably been started by a discarded cigarette, the property was a 'potential death trap' and should never have been let out, he said. There were no fire-resistant doors, bars were fitted to the outside of all windows and the electrical system was sub-standard. 'I consider that a properly operating smoke detector/alarm system should have been installed', said the Sheriff.

He also described a failure to return the tenants' deposits as 'deplorable'.

While the family of the dead tenants are among those pushing for criminal action against Singh, his case has prompted further reaction.

Glasgow COuncil is reported to have begun a crackdown on unregistered HMO landlords. While over 100 have paid £1,700 each for the recently introduced HMSO licence, other landlords are suspected of operating illegally. Some 30 warrants have been granted to the council to raid suspected unlicensed HMO lets.

Meanwhile the local press is on the case and has reported that the flat where the fire occurred is now being let out as a massage parlour.

A Scottish court has ordered a landlady to pay her former tenants £12,000 damages after it was claimed she had harassed them in a bid to have them vacate their rented flat.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the landlady, Alexandra Gallagher, had requested that her tenants leave the property before their tenancy had expired. When they refused she conducted a campaign of harassment thet included having the water turned off, changing the locks and falsifying eviction documents to achieve her goal.
When the tenants were away from the property Gallagher had the locks changed so they could not re-enter. The family was obliged to seek emergency accommodation provided by the local council.
Meanwhile Gallagher sold the property and charged the tenants £108 for resumption of the water supply and replacement locks.
'I am left in no doubt that the couple were subjected to a campaign of pressurisation and threats at the instigation of the defendant to have them move out of the property before the end of their tenancy', commented the Sheriff, Roger Craik QC.

other artilces from the February / March 2001 issue