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

Now, eleven landlords have been served notices telling them to repair the problems or properties will be closed and the landlord removed from the landlord’s register.

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.”

Targeting below tolerable standard housing comes as a part of a wider initiative to improve housing standards in the Govanhill area.

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

New housing legislation has meant the council also secured approval from the Scottish Government for Enhanced Enforcement Area (EEA) powers to be applied to four blocks of tenement flats in the south-west corner of the area.

Under the EEA, the council has acquired stronger powers to regulate landlords and to drive through repairs to problem properties.

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.