A tenement where two students died in a fire 20 years ago and has deteriorated into a slum is to be taken over by the Council.

A Compulsory Purchase Order is being sought for a number of flats at 4-6 Melrose Street, in Woodlands.

In 1999 Daniel Heron and James Fraser, both aged 20, died in a fire at a basement flat in 6 Melrose Street owned and let by landlord Harpal Singh.

The council says the B listed building has deteriorated and has been empty since 2018 after a number were closed when flats being let out were found to be Below Tolerable Standard.

Some of the flats were found to have been let out by an unregistered private landlord who could not prove ownership of the building.

Glasgow Times: Harpal SinghHarpal Singh

There are currently no registered owners of the properties but anyone who doe own any of the flats will have the opportunity to claim compensation.

The order will cover all flats at number 4 and number 6 Melrose Street.

Iain Robertson, director of Contracts and Property at Glasgow City Council said in a report to councillors the building is .

He said: “The building is in a state of disrepair and its condition is deteriorating due to water ingress and exposure to the elements.

“The last registered owner of the building and the flats contained therein was a company called Barrland Investments Limited, which was dissolved on 19th February 2008. Some of the flats were found to have been let by an unregistered private landlord who could not prove ownership of the building.

“When the property was first reported to Housing and Regeneration Services in late 2017 it was found that those flats which were occupied, were in very poor condition and failed the tolerable standard.”

The flats will be transferred to Charing Cross Housing Association who will carry out building repairs and create eight or nine flats for social housing