An Edinburgh private hire driver who kept his licence despite drug convictions has now been struck from the landlord register, meaning he can no longer let out his five properties.
Muhammad Umar told councillors at a licensing meeting in February that being a private hire driver was the only form of work he could find to support his family after his conviction.
However, at a licensing meeting on Monday, Umar was struck from the landlord register by city councillors on receipt of information he was renting out five properties in Edinburgh.
Umar appeared at the meeting with his sister, and appeared frustrated as he spoke to councillors, failing to address his remarks about his income last month.
Police did not read out information about his convictions, but in February it was disclosed that Umar had been convicted of production and distribution of a controlled substance.
He was also found guilty of a more recent traffic offence, where he overtook a stopped queue of cars to beat a queue of traffic.
Umar received a 300 hour community payback order for the drugs conviction, and a £600 fine plus a £40 victim surcharge for the traffic offence, plus six penalty points.
At the February licensing meeting, he had his private hire driver’s licence suspended for 28 days, effective immediately from the date of the meeting.
He told them: “This was a one-off incident during Covid. I’ve never had any issues with the police in the past regarding criminal convictions.
“I had a lot going on [at the time of the incident leading to the conviction], my mum was in hospital, it was Covid 19 as well.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross asked Umar: “When you first became aware of the use of your property for the cultivation of cannabis, do you accept it was your responsibility to notify the police immediately?”
Umar replied that he had ‘panicked’, and continued: “That’s my mistake, I take full responsibility and I wish I never, ever did that.”
During the February meeting, councillors heard that Umar was called to attend his property by police in May 2021 after a persistent water leak into the flat below the one he owned.
On arrival, he quickly entered the flat and shut police out, with officers spotting plastic structures through the door and artificial lighting.
They became suspicious that Umar was trying to hide something, and said they could smell cannabis.
Eventually, Umar let the officers in, where they saw an ‘extensive cannabis cultivation operation’, as well as alterations to the property including a bypassed power meter.
Police inspector James Langside told councillors at the meeting that he was evasive about the identity of his tenant.
After a warrant was issued, cannabis plants valued at over £40,000 were removed from the property.
Councillors at the meeting heard that Umar was still a landlord, but his letting of multiple properties was not discussed.
During Monday’s meeting, Labour councillor Margaret Graham said: “I am of the same opinion that I was [in February].
“I believe that the severity of the drugs and drug crime make Mr Umar not a fit person to be a landlord. I would like to see him struck off the register.
Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat said: “I know Mr Umar was in front of us for a different licence type last time.
“I do think that this is a very different [situation], because the legislation and the guidance is very clear about landlord registration and the type of incidents that need to be struck off the landlord register.
“This was also an incident that happened in the flat and does point to concerns about how he managed his properties, albeit during Covid.
“I am also concerned that [Umar’s] property was used as a cannabis farm.”
She supported Cllr Graham’s position that Umar be struck from the landlord register, which the rest of the committee agreed with.
Monday’s licensing meeting saw four landlords struck off the register, with a decision on another landlord delayed.
Licensing meetings in the year prior to the one on Monday have seen very few landlords up for removal from the register.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
