'Unfit landlord' Paton is stripped of right to rent
EX-BAY City Rollers manager Tam Paton has been stripped of his licence to rent out several city centre properties after being branded an "unfit" landlord.
The move comes after the controversial millionaire was ordered to appear before Edinburgh City Council’s licensing committee.
It is understood police claimed Paton’s drug conviction made him "unfit" to hold a licence.
Councillors agreed and suspended his licence for six bedsits he rents out in the West End. He has also had permission to rent out rooms at his mansion in Gogarburn removed.
Paton, who owns a number of properties in the Capital, generating him an income of 175,000 a year, vowed today to appeal the decision through the courts.
The 67-year-old, who has been plagued by ill-health since suffering a stroke last year, said: "In more than 30 years of having rented out accommodation, I have never had a complaint against me. I think I am being victimised."
Drugs worth 26,000 were seized when police raided Paton’s mansion in March 2003. He was fined 200,000 in May last year.
Council sources today said Paton’s deteriorating health had been taken into account when suspending his Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
The licence relates to six bedsits in the block of flats in Palmerston Place.
Paton said today: "The council has got to tell me why I’m not a fit and proper person. Are they talking about my personal lifestyle - that’s an infringement of human rights.
"If they are talking about neglecting people’s safety, I have never had a major fire or lost a life at any of my properties."
If the sheriff upholds the city council’s decision, Paton’s tenants face eviction.
"They are taking away roofs from over people’s heads," added Paton.
"I’m going to appeal, which gives them another few months before they put people out on the streets."
Paton claimed that two of the four people living at his Little Kellerstain mansion are carers who he needs to look after him following his stroke, which has left him paralysed down the left side of his body.
He claimed he did not require licences for his other properties in the city because they did not fall under the Houses in Multiple Occupation legislation.
The police today declined to comment on the licences.
A spokeswoman for the city council today said: "We cannot comment on this particular matter because it was discussed in private, but anyone has the right to appeal to a sheriff against the decision."
An HMO licence is needed for a property which has three or more unrelated people living in it.
The son of a potato merchant, Prestonpans-born Paton has claimed in recent years to be worth 5 million.
Paton, who has shed five stone since suffering a stroke, found fame and fortune guiding the Rollers through their heyday in the 1970s, as they sold 70 million records and attracted an enormous worldwide following.
Since being sacked as the band’s manager in 1979, Paton has developed a multi-million-pound property empire based in Edinburgh.
He lives with his long-term partner, Ray Cotter, 43, who he has been with for 26 years.
He previously served one year of a four-year sentence after being convicted of sex offences against four teenage boys in 1982.
In 2003, Paton was cleared of an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy in the 1970s.
The sex allegations against Paton centred on a club in Surrey frequented by teenagers and big names from the music industry in the 1970s called the Walton Hop.
Surrey Police launched Operation Arundel after a number of allegations of sexual abuse were made against prominent individuals who were said to frequent the club.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/unfit-landlord-paton-is-stripped-of-right-to-rent-1-1005383
It is understood police claimed Paton’s drug conviction made him "unfit" to hold a licence.
Councillors agreed and suspended his licence for six bedsits he rents out in the West End. He has also had permission to rent out rooms at his mansion in Gogarburn removed.
Paton, who owns a number of properties in the Capital, generating him an income of 175,000 a year, vowed today to appeal the decision through the courts.
The 67-year-old, who has been plagued by ill-health since suffering a stroke last year, said: "In more than 30 years of having rented out accommodation, I have never had a complaint against me. I think I am being victimised."
Drugs worth 26,000 were seized when police raided Paton’s mansion in March 2003. He was fined 200,000 in May last year.
Council sources today said Paton’s deteriorating health had been taken into account when suspending his Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
The licence relates to six bedsits in the block of flats in Palmerston Place.
Paton said today: "The council has got to tell me why I’m not a fit and proper person. Are they talking about my personal lifestyle - that’s an infringement of human rights.
"If they are talking about neglecting people’s safety, I have never had a major fire or lost a life at any of my properties."
If the sheriff upholds the city council’s decision, Paton’s tenants face eviction.
"They are taking away roofs from over people’s heads," added Paton.
"I’m going to appeal, which gives them another few months before they put people out on the streets."
Paton claimed that two of the four people living at his Little Kellerstain mansion are carers who he needs to look after him following his stroke, which has left him paralysed down the left side of his body.
He claimed he did not require licences for his other properties in the city because they did not fall under the Houses in Multiple Occupation legislation.
The police today declined to comment on the licences.
A spokeswoman for the city council today said: "We cannot comment on this particular matter because it was discussed in private, but anyone has the right to appeal to a sheriff against the decision."
An HMO licence is needed for a property which has three or more unrelated people living in it.
The son of a potato merchant, Prestonpans-born Paton has claimed in recent years to be worth 5 million.
Paton, who has shed five stone since suffering a stroke, found fame and fortune guiding the Rollers through their heyday in the 1970s, as they sold 70 million records and attracted an enormous worldwide following.
Since being sacked as the band’s manager in 1979, Paton has developed a multi-million-pound property empire based in Edinburgh.
He lives with his long-term partner, Ray Cotter, 43, who he has been with for 26 years.
He previously served one year of a four-year sentence after being convicted of sex offences against four teenage boys in 1982.
In 2003, Paton was cleared of an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy in the 1970s.
The sex allegations against Paton centred on a club in Surrey frequented by teenagers and big names from the music industry in the 1970s called the Walton Hop.
Surrey Police launched Operation Arundel after a number of allegations of sexual abuse were made against prominent individuals who were said to frequent the club.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/unfit-landlord-paton-is-stripped-of-right-to-rent-1-1005383
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