A buy-to-let landlord in Edinburgh who evicted a young family and dumped their belongings in the garden after they fell into rent arrears may lose his landlord’s licence.
David Love, who owns a portfolio of 15 buy-to-let properties in and around Edinburgh, hit the headlines last year after evicting mum-of-nine Donna Newby and her children, who had occupied the flat for nine years, for not paying the rent.
The family saw several of their items, including TVs, laptops and electronic toys, broken beyond repair after they were flung into the communal front garden in the city’s Wester Drylaw Place by their 37-year old landlord, who is also an amateur boxer.
The incident took place in March last year after an eviction notice was served against the family to vacate the property.
Having failed to leave the property, Love, who was awarded £1,250 compensation on ITV’s Judge Rinder last month, turned up at the flat and disposed of the family’s possessions by throwing them from the second-floor flat’s balcony.
However, Love, who faced potentially having his landlord’s license revoked, allowed his existing licence to lapse last month in the hope it would take a year for his fresh application to be considered.
But councillors have moved to arrange a swift hearing next month to consider the new licence, which could scupper his plan.
Love told the Record in Edinburgh that he is now concerned that the council will strip him of the licence.
He said: “It was really self-preservation. It normally takes them a year to process the application. It was the fastest and easiest way to buy time.
“Obviously they’re now going to fast-track it because of what’s happened.”
Love added: “It’s a serious threat and could happen. I don’t believe it’s been investigated properly.
“The council sent a letter saying that after hearing from Police Scotland, myself and council officers, they recommend my licence is revoked.
“But they never heard from me and the police correspondence never said I did anything wrong.
“Because it’s been in the public eye, I think the council will come down hard so I thought I’d try to delay it a bit.”
If Love loses his licence, he can appeal in the sheriff court, where he hopes he can win. But with lost earnings and legal fees, Love fears that he could lose in the region of £30,000.
“I’d also look at selling properties or transferring them into another name,” he added.
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