EXTRA powers have been given to Scotland’s largest local authority to help it crackdown on rogue landlords renting out flats in one of the country’s poorest areas.

They have been handed to Glasgow City Council by the Scottish Government in a bid to tackle rogue landlords in Govanhill, which has been plagued by overcrowding and squalid living conditions in recent years.

Under the move announced yesterday ministers have designated 14 tenement blocks in the suburb as Enhanced Enforcement Areas (EEA) – a status allowing housing and other council officials rights of entry to properties if there are complaints from residents about how they are managed by private landlords.

Council staff can request electrical and gas safety certificates and refer landlords who fail to supply them to a register of private landlords. If landlords fail to act they can face losing their licence to rent out property and ultimately prosecution and a £50,000 fine.

Four tenement blocks were designated an EEA in 2015, and officials believe it has helped them tackle some of the housing issues.

Kevin Stewart, the Scottish Government’s Housing Minister, said the new powers would help the council to make further progress.

“The success of Govanhill’s first EEA is clear. During initial inspections, only 21 properties within the area met the repairing standard requirements,” he said.

“Now, through the council’s ongoing engagement with landlords, 175 properties met the standard on their second inspection.

“The additional powers will ensure the council can intervene directly on housing problems faced by residents in the area.

“I am committed to improving conditions for tenants in the private rented sector and this further designation will help ensure that people are living in good-quality private rented homes and landlords take their responsibilities to the people they home seriously.”

Parts of Govanhill are ranked among the most deprived in the country, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Local agencies highlight overcrowding, poor housing and rogue landlords as the key problem, while the area also has a higher than average crime rate.

The area is in the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Glasgow Southside constituency and she has been attacked by political opponents over Govanhill’s social problems. But many of the people of Govanhill speak positively of its ethnic diversity with more than 40 languages spoken by 60 nationalities.

Last weekend thousands of people turned out to an anti-racist festival in the area with the First Minister and UK Labour leader among the guest speakers.

A parade “celebrating all of Glasgow’s cultures” went from from Govanhill Park to Queen’s Park, followed by a festival with street performers, food, dancing and live music. Reggae band Aswad were the headline performers.

Mhairi Hunter, co-chairwoman of Glasgow City Council’s Govanhill Taskforce, welcomed the EEA measures.

She said: “The first EEA has led to a wide range of improvements within the ‘four blocks’. Action has been taken against failing landlords, properties have been brought up to standard, the number of property factors appointed has almost doubled and there has been a drop in anti-social behaviour.

“The extended EEA will give us the tools to tackle rogue landlords in a further 14 blocks and help us improve the rest of south west Govanhill. Govanhill is a diverse, vibrant community loved by many. The council is committed to the long-term regeneration of the area.”

The 14 tenement blocks being given EEA status are in: Albert Road, Allison Street, Annette Street, Bankhall Street, Belleisle Street, Bowman Street, Calder Street, Cathcart Road, Daisy Street, Dixon Avenue, Garturk Street, Langside Road, Victoria Road and Westmoreland Street.