Landlords of 13 properties in the First Minister’s Glasgow constituency have been targeted after the buildings were found to be "below tolerable standard".

Inspections carried out by Glasgow City Council revealed a range of problems at the houses in Govanhill including faulty electrics, residents having no access to hot water, inadequate washing and cooking facilities and unsanitary drainage.

These discoveries followed complaints from local residents, with some contacting STV last week claiming rats and other vermin were spotted in rubbish piles.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the MSP for the area, was also confronted by residents about the problem.

Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government have announced a £9.3m acquisition programme for Govanhill Housing Association to bring around 80 flats into the social rented sector.

Under the new improvement procedures, landlords will now be given an opportunity to repair their properties to bring them back to a tolerable standard.

Failure to undertake this can lead to the property being closed and the landlord being removed from the landlord’s register.

New housing legislation provided by the Scottish Government enhanced enforcement area (EEA) - has allowed the council to regulate landlords and to drive through repairs to problem properties. EEA also gives council officers a right of entry to properties which have been subject to complaints.

Councillor George Redmond, executive member for jobs, business and investment, claimed the message on poor housing standards in Govanhill is “getting through” to landlords.

He said: “Having so many active improvement procedures in place against specific properties at the same time in such a relatively small area is unprecedented.

“That so much work needs to be done does highlight how neglectful landlords in Govanhill have been in recent years. But we now have an increasing array of tools at our disposal and that is allied to a clear determination to deal with poor quality housing in the area.

“Landlords must now be fully aware that we are prepared to take action against those that bring the area down and we are making it increasingly harder for anyone to dodge their responsibility to maintain their property.”

The push to drive up standards has also led to 19 landlords being added to the landlord’s register for the first time while a further 32 landlords have been called upon to produce certification on gas safety, energy efficiency and insurance.