A landlord who was jailed for culpable homicide in 2008 has been refused permission to rent out flats in Glasgow, despite claiming he has taken ‘responsibility for his actions’ and moved on.

John Maguire was sentenced to four years in prison after he struck Andrew Best with a vehicle wheel brace in the car park of a garden centre. Best, 44, died from injuries sustained during the attack.

Maguire’s bid to become an approved landlord was narrowly rejected by the city’s licensing committee, the Glasgow Times reports, after he asked to be entered into the register of private landlords.

Scottish law requires landlords to join the register via a 'fit a proper person' test, a system that also exists in Wales and, if the Renters Reform Bill becomes law, in England too albeit in a more diluted way.

Responsibility

Maguire, now 39, said he was 22 at the time of the incident and told councillors he took full responsibility for his actions, adding he had “come to terms with the fact that I’ve been involved in a horrendous crime where someone has lost their life”.

He told the meeting that he’d been a landlord in Renfrewshire for the last 11 or 12 years and when asked about his experience within the sector, told the committee he had had no issues and that he had dealt with any problem tenants through the correct channels.

Maguire owned properties in Glasgow prior to the offence but sold them when his licence was revoked.

“I thought it would be best to apply to this council beforehand,” he added. “I’ve never rented in Glasgow without having a licence.”

Contempt

A council official told the committee that Maguire had also been convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Maguire, who doesn’t currently own any properties in Glasgow, had previously applied to be registered as a landlord in the city in 2009 and 2013. Councillors voted four to three to refuse the application.