Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) were told 750 houses in the area are "below tolerable standard". A study commissioned by the association discovered 131 flats in the area bounded by Westmoreland Street, Dixon Avenue, Langside Road and Allison Street - dubbed Ground Zero' by residents - needed comprehensive improvement.

Tenants in one tenement in Langside Road had to be evacuated from their flats last week after parts of the ground floor started to collapse into the basement. The association, which was today giving its evidence to Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee, claims many of the substandard properties are owned by slum landlords. Its report warns of an "underlying problem of severe overcrowding".

"It is this problem which creates the severe dangers to public health, fire risks, anti-social behaviour and race relations conflicts," it says. The association also warned MSPs that it is worried about exploitation by rogue landlords linked to gangmasters. HM Revenue and Customs confirmed there are continuing investigations into gangmasters operating in the city.

Mainly affected are around 2000 EU migrants, mostly Roma, from Eastern Europe, and the association says there's a lack of Government support for them. The petition warns: "The levels of substandard housing have become a breeding ground for crime, exploitation, poor health, poor educational attainment and cockroach infestations impacting directly on the most vulnerable residents in the community and, in particular, the new Roma residents who have no choice but to live in these conditions.

"These social impacts are also beginning to threaten the sustain-ability of the improved tenement stock as private landlords begin to expand their activities by acquiring from private owners desperate to leave the area."
The association is also calling for strengthened powers for the city council, in particular its ability to use compulsory purchase orders when tackling rogue landlords.

Part of the problem is that they can dodge their responsibilities by transferring property into different personal or company names.
The association says "fundamental action" must be taken to tackle the problem.

In reply to a question from Shettleston MSP Frank McAveety about the situation, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said it would not be " appropriate" for him to comment since the petition had not yet been considered. However, he added: "We recognise this is a significant problem and the Scottish government will work with the local authority and other agencies to identify solutions."