From the turn of the century tenants have been renting in the streets of Gibson, Otago and Westbank Quadrant. The complex relationship between landlords, tenants and resident owners has changed over the years. Over the past ten years the decrease of family homes within this area is part of that change.

But what makes a community ?

Is the neighborhood just a collection of people living in the one area, or is it more than that ? Research has shown that people feel better about themselves when they are part of a ‘community’.

Does the Glasgow tenement still seem like an ‘urban village’ ?

A comparable complex community recently broke down at Glasgow City Council’s flagship development on the river Clyde. Relationships deteriorated when factoring services were withdrawn when absentee landlords failed to pay factor Life Property Management. The nightmare began for some residents as vital repairs were ignored. As common repairs mounted, around 30 flats were put up for sale, some were re-possessed. It was the community who suffered, with reports of children given panic alarms due to broken security doors and some fearing that the water and electricity would be cut off. The publicity has been extremely damaging for the modern development.

So what does this have to do with GOW ?

Here too the relationship betwen the community and landlords is vital. We would love to hear your views on this topic and encourage everyone to get in touch. By gathering the views of the community, we hope to create a better understanding of the realationship between landlords, tenants and resident owners, and ensure problems which occur in other areas are not repeated within our own neighbourhood.

Use the contact page, or email gowcommunity@gmail.com to get in touch.

C.Frew