Glasgow Arts Hub Tenants Condemn 'Unsustainable' Rent Rises by Landlord
Tenants at one of Glasgow's premier cultural hubs are embroiled in a fierce dispute over what they label "unsustainable" rent increases, with critics accusing the landlord, City Property, of acting as a "rogue agency" imposing similar burdens on vulnerable organizations citywide. As lease renewals loom, hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Property's offices last Friday, highlighting escalating concerns about the accountability of this arm's-length organization managing hundreds of buildings for Glasgow City Council.
Political Intervention and Public Outcry
At First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney urged First Minister John Swinney to intervene, warning that City Property is "out of control" and threatening to force out seven tenants at Trongate 103 with extra costs totaling £700,000 annually—four times previous rents and ten times service charges. The Trongate building, revitalized in 2009 with £8 million in public funds to foster a sustainable grassroots arts community, houses esteemed institutions like Transmission Gallery, Street Level Photography, and Glasgow Print Studio.
In response, City Property has staunchly denied eviction claims, asserting that notices to quit are standard in lease renewals and that new rents remain below commercial rates. However, tenants have appealed to Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson and all MSPs, cautioning that the "current trajectory risks dismantling one of Glasgow's most important cultural assets."
Tenant Experiences and Allegations of Coercion
Mark Langdon, chair of the Glasgow Media Access Centre, which relocated to a nearby community centre, recounted a "coercive and unfair" process, stating, "After 17 years in the building we were given only four weeks to decide." He contrasted this with City Property's professed values of diversity and community. Glasgow Print Studio, compelled to sign an interim monthly lease "under duress," rejected the "unsustainable increases" to rent and uncapped service charges, emphasizing their actions were solely to maintain operations.
Beyond Trongate 103, other organizations report troubling interactions with City Property. Turning Point Scotland, a major social care provider, disputes £805,000 in "dilapidation" charges after moving out of a property, despite investing £1 million in repairs. Consultant Chris Wallace noted, "City Property likes to say this is a negotiation. The council says it's a commercial dispute and won't get involved," adding that charity tenants fear speaking out due to ongoing lease disputes.
Calls for Oversight and Reform
An anonymous charity renting multiple properties from City Property expressed fear that unchecked practices could extend to more vulnerable groups, citing poor property maintenance and a lack of accountability. In defense, City Property dismissed these as "baseless claims," highlighting its board's scrutiny by elected council members and adherence to concessionary rent policies.
The Scottish Greens are advancing a motion for greater council intervention to support Trongate 103 tenants and enhance oversight of arm's-length entities. Deputy Provost Christy Mearns argued, "Trongate 103 should never have been passed over as a purely commercial asset, as the organizations within it are not commercial by their very nature." Paul Sweeney echoed calls for improved oversight, stressing, "This is a public agency that should have the public interest at its core," referencing recent city centre neglect.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson acknowledged ongoing lease discussions, describing them as "reasonable." As tensions mount, the fate of Glasgow's cultural landscape hangs in the balance, with tenants and advocates demanding transparency and fairness from City Property.
