A Scottish politician is supporting a group of private tenants who wish to carry out essential repairs on their rented homes and then recover the costs from landlords. This move comes amid growing frustration in a Glasgow community over long-standing issues with neglected properties.
In one particular part of Glasgow, tensions are rising as residents claim that absentee landlords—some of whom reportedly live abroad—are failing to maintain their rental properties. Around 400 privately owned homes in the area are thought to be affected.
Residents have highlighted a range of serious concerns, including filthy communal areas, overgrown gardens, broken windows, unkempt stairwells, and deteriorating roofs. The conditions have become so dire that many tenants are reportedly losing hope, with one resident commenting that people are starting to wonder what the point is in trying to improve their surroundings.
According to local news outlet Glasgow Live, the Denmilne Community Action Group is leading the charge for change. The group claims that tenants are paying as much as £900 per month to live in homes plagued by neglect. Their campaign has brought to light the poor living standards endured by many in the area.
Some of the affected properties are reportedly being used to house asylum seekers. These arrangements are said to be managed by Mears Housing Solutions, a company that sources accommodation on behalf of local councils.
Dennis Docherty, chair of the Denmilne Action Group, has been vocal about the lack of landlord accountability. “Landlords own this place but they don’t care,” he said. “They are not contributing to anything. The closes are in total disrepair – we have roofs falling apart. People are becoming demotivated thinking: ‘what is the point?’”
Now, Councillor Ruairi Kelly of the Scottish National Party is pushing for a new approach. He is calling on the Scottish Government to grant permission for tenants or local authorities to carry out necessary works and then recover the costs from landlords, instead of waiting for emergencies to arise.
Councillor Kelly said: “The Denmilne Action Group put in a huge amount of work locally to improve the look and feel of the area, but fragmented ownership and absentee landlords mean that there are bigger structural problems not being addressed. Making sure that properties are well looked after is vitally important. Glasgow has seen too many homes knocked down because of a lack of maintenance.”
The proposal seeks to empower communities and avoid deterioration by addressing maintenance issues proactively. Rather than wait for buildings to become uninhabitable, repairs would be done early—with landlords ultimately footing the bill.
Mears Housing Solutions has responded to the situation, stating: “Our team regularly inspects the homes we use to ensure they meet the standards set by the Home Office. We also encourage our service users to take care of their homes and shared spaces, providing clear information on refuse collection and respectful conduct as part of their induction.”
The company added that it is actively engaging with local residents to improve the environment. “We continue to engage closely with the Denmilne Action Group. Mears staff met with the group today and have agreed to provide further support to help improve communal areas.”
The call for reform highlights the growing demand for landlord accountability, particularly in areas suffering from poor housing conditions and absentee ownership. It remains to be seen whether the Scottish Government will act on these proposals, but support for tenant-led solutions appears to be gaining traction.