The University of Glasgow has been given a severe warning after “potentially putting lives at risk” by operating student accommodation without the required licence.

Flats at Lister House on Winton Drive in the city’s West End have continued to be let to students despite the university failing to renew a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence in October 2022.

HMO licences are required for premises where there are three or more people living together who are not related.

The application process involves inspections by council officials and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, while applicants must provide safety certificates.

Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, the licensing committee chairman, said housing students in an unlicensed HMO was “potentially putting lives at risk”.

He criticised a decision to move new students into the flats despite the property remaining unlicensed, branding it a “massive mistake”.

However, councillors did agree to grant a new HMO licence for a restricted period of one year, rather than the three years requested.

Anne Macgregor, representing the university at the licensing hearing, told the committee: “I must accept responsibility for that. I actually started the process in April prior to it expiring.

“I got distracted I’m afraid to say and it was only later that I realised. During that time, we were having quite a housing crisis within Glasgow around bed capacity. All I can do is take responsibility and apologise.”

Cllr Wilson quizzed Ms Macgregor on the decision to move more students into the flats after one term had come to an end.

She said she understood in June last year that an inspection had “gone well in terms of the standard of management” and “assumed that everything would go through” with the application for the new HMO.

Following the inspection, council officials informed the accommodation manager that the house “must not be used as a HMO until the licence has been granted”.

In a report to the committee, they added the property was first known to be a HMO in 2000, but the applicant had “failed to timeously submit an application” to renew the licence.

Cllr Wilson said: “When you are managing any property, never assume anything. Just because our officers came out for a visit, doesn’t mean you are licensed. 

“You still put new students in there, not one of those students should have been in there.”

He said she had known the flats were unlicensed but allowed students to move in, which “is an even bigger crime in my eyes than just dropping the ball”.

“You didn’t just drop the ball, you booted that ball all over Glasgow. You have made a massive mistake.”

Bailie Leòdhas Massie, Greens, added: “The University of Glasgow is one of the most well-resourced institutions in the city, do you think it’s maybe a good opportunity to go back to your employer and work out a way of working to make sure something like this can never happen again?”

He said the university should “make sure there are checks and balances on decisions like this”.

Ms Macgregor, who said she was taking early retirement, said she had found the last four years, including the Covid pandemic, to be “challenging”.

She added there has been “restructures within my organisation” but said she takes “complete responsibility”.

“I’ve let myself down and I’ve let the university down.”

Cllr Wilson said: “I understand you have had challenges, I think the university has probably failed you. You probably should have had greater support.

“The size of the university, they should have things in place so this won’t happen. I don’t think they’ve covered themselves in any glory either.”

Cllr Jill Pidgeon, Labour, suggested that a severe warning over the future management of the premises should be issued, but the application should be granted for three years. She was supported by Cllr Zen Ghani, SNP.

However, Cllr Wilson’s motion, seconded by Cllr Eunis Jassemi, Labour, that the application should be granted for only one year, with a warning issued, was passed by three votes to two.