A landlord faces a warning for renting 32 unlicensed flats, risking student safety and insurance coverage in Glasgow’s Townhead area.
The licensing chief, Alex Wilson, highlighted the risks involved. He said renting 32 seven-bedroom flats without a proper HMO licence could invalidate insurance. This oversight could have serious consequences for students living there.
The accommodation costs start at £216 per week. However, the licenses were not updated after the ownership changed. Abodus Student Living, the management firm, admitted it was a significant oversight.
They received a one-year license but were warned about future management. This incident follows another case where a different firm was also reprimanded for running unlicensed flats.
Phoenix Centenary Court Ltd had 39 properties leased to City of Glasgow College without valid licenses. They failed to keep their licenses updated after a company restructure.
St James Glasgow Investment Ltd bought the Townhead flats in October 2023. They didn’t submit new license applications on time, which led to the current situation.
Cllr Wilson emphasized that the companies should have ensured the flats were licensed. He pointed out that if any issues arose, they would be liable. Thankfully, no incidents occurred during this period.
An Abodus representative apologized, stating they were unaware of the licensing issue. They manage over 5,000 lets across the UK and claim to operate within the law.
Council officials reported that a March inspection found management standards satisfactory. However, Cllr Wilson stressed the importance of having licensed accommodations for students.
HMO licenses are essential for landlords renting to three or more unrelated individuals. The Abodus representative mentioned this was their first licensing process in Scotland after acquiring properties in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They had hoped to transfer a senior manager with expertise, but that plan fell through at the last minute.
