Council chiefs in Edinburgh have effectively become landlords of two Grove Street flats after winning a court order forcing the landlord to hand over the keys.
Landlord Ian Scott was renting out the flats to stag and hen parties, sparking a flood of complaints about noise and antisocial behaviour from angry residents.
To catch out the rogue landlord, council trading standards officers posed as stag and hen party organisers seeking party digs. Officers of both sexes made “test purchases”, booking short stays for groups of revellers.
At a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie approved the council’s application for a management control order (MCO). The council has now been given the “rights and obligations of a landlord” over the Fountainbridge properties for a year.
The move is the first of its kind in Scotland and lawyers are still discussing with council chiefs the exact responsibilities they will have to assume as landlords. This may include continuing to rent out the properties to visitors who have made bookings – but not stag and hen groups – and passing income to Scott.
Stuart Gale QC, representing the council, told the court that Scott had made “repeated and quite flagrant breaches” of enforcement notices concerning the flats. Scott was charging £800 for a two-night stay.
As well as granting the MCO, Sheriff Mackie made Scott liable for court expenses.
Councillor Cammy Day, the city’s community safety leader, said: “I hope this court ruling sends out a clear message to landlords.”
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