Key Points
- Kasim Ahmed, a convicted shop arsonist who served a prison sentence over a failed insurance fraud, has been allowed to keep his private landlord registration by Glasgow City Council’s Licensing Committee.
- Ahmed and his brother, Sahail, were each jailed for two years after a High Court trial in Glasgow over a fire at their family business, the International Mobile Phone Centre on Gallowgate, in May 2020.
- The trial heard that CCTV showed Kasim Ahmed filling a jerry can with petrol at an Asda station 30 minutes before the fire. The blaze forced residents upstairs to evacuate and led to a bomb squad response because fireworks were stored at the premises.
- Despite the conviction and public safety risks involved in the original offence, the licensing committee decided Ahmed remained a fit and proper person to hold private landlord registration.
- The decision contrasts with an earlier ruling by the same committee that rejected Sahail Ahmed’s application for landlord registration after considering evidence about the arson attempt.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 27, 2026 – A convicted shop arsonist who was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in torching a family mobile phone business during a failed insurance scam has been granted permission to keep operating as a registered private landlord in Glasgow.
Kasim Ahmed appeared before members of Glasgow City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee to request that he remain on the city’s register of private landlords. Following a review of his character and conviction history, councillors decided to allow his landlord registration to continue.
Why Was Kasim Ahmed Brought Before the Glasgow Licensing Committee?
As reported by Drew Sandelands of Glasgow Live, Kasim Ahmed was required to appear before local authority officials because all registered private landlords in Scotland must satisfy the statutory “fit and proper person” test under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004. Local councils hold discretionary powers to revoke or refuse registration if an applicant has been convicted of severe criminal offences, particularly those involving violence, fraud, or fire safety hazards.
Ahmed was previously convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of participating in a fraudulent scheme and setting a fire that endangered public safety. Because of this unspent conviction, council officers referred his application directly to the elected members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for formal scrutiny.
What Was the Background of the High Court Arson Trial?
As reported by Grant McCabe of the Daily Record, Kasim Ahmed and his brother Sahail Ahmed were both sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by Judge Douglas Brown in July 2023 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The court heard that on 16 May 2020, during the national COVID-19 lockdown, the brothers hatched a scheme to deliberately set fire to their family business, the International Mobile Phone Centre on Gallowgate. The business, which had been operated by their family for around 20 years, was suffering severe financial strain. Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel told the jury that the brothers moved items out of the shop into vehicles, purchased petrol, spread it across the interior, and ignited it in an effort to claim insurance payouts. The prosecution described the operation in court as “utterly idiotic.”
Crucial evidence presented during the trial included closed-circuit television footage showing Kasim Ahmed filling a fuel canister at an Asda petrol station in Parkhead just 30 minutes before the blaze erupted. Although Ahmed initially claimed to police that the fuel was intended for a private vehicle, fire investigators identified multiple deliberate ignition points and the clear presence of petrol inside the store.
The resulting fire caused significant damage, forced nearby residents residing in the flats directly above the shop to evacuate their homes, and necessitated an emergency call-out of explosive ordnance disposal officers due to unverified fears regarding fireworks kept inside the premises.
How Does This Decision Compare to Previous Licensing Rulings?
As reported by Catriona Stewart of STV News, the licensing committee had previously taken a strict stance regarding the same incident when evaluating Sahail Ahmed’s application to join the landlord register. In June 2025, councillors unanimously refused Sahail Ahmed’s application after learning the details of the Gallowgate arson.
During that earlier hearing, a representative for Sahail Ahmed argued that the brothers had only intended to cause minor “smoke damage” to persuade their father to return to Scotland from Pakistan, rather than destroy the building. However, Committee Chair Alex Wilson and Councillor Sean Ferguson highlighted the extreme danger of fire spreading into residential properties within seconds, branding the arson a “profoundly stupid act” that posed an unacceptable risk to human life.
In contrast, during the most recent proceedings involving Kasim Ahmed, committee members weighed his individual circumstances, his post-release conduct, and the specific details of his landlord application before deciding that he should not be stripped of his landlord credentials.
Background of the Particular Development
Under Scottish housing legislation, specifically the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, every local authority is mandated to maintain a public register of private landlords. The primary purpose of landlord registration is to ensure that private rented accommodation is managed by individuals who meet strict legal and ethical criteria, ensuring tenant safety and property maintenance standard compliance.
When a landlord is convicted of a serious crime—especially one involving property destruction, fire, or financial fraud—local authorities trigger a review procedure. The Licensing and Regulatory Committee evaluates factors such as:
- The nature and severity of the criminal offence.
- The time elapsed since the commission of the crime.
- Whether the criminal conduct directly relates to property management or tenant safety.
- Evidence of rehabilitation and general character fitness.
The committee holds the statutory power to grant a registration, refuse a registration, or apply specific conditions. Refusal effectively bars an individual from legally renting out residential property within the council’s jurisdiction.
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Implications and Predictions for Stakeholders
The decision to allow a convicted arsonist to maintain private landlord status in Glasgow is likely to generate significant debate across several key groups within the Scottish housing landscape.
Private Tenants in Glasgow
For residential tenants, this ruling may raise concerns regarding safety oversight and accountability within the private rented sector. Tenants living in properties managed by individuals with past convictions for arson or fire-related offences may express apprehension about property maintenance standards, electrical safety checks, and overall risk management. Tenant advocacy groups may use this case to argue for tighter statutory guidelines on what constitutes a “fit and proper person.”
Private Landlords and Sector Regulations
For the broader private rented sector, the decision underlines the discretionary nature of council licensing panels. Landlord associations and property managers will monitor how this decision impacts public perception of the Scottish Landlord Register. The contrast between the refusal of Sahail Ahmed’s registration and the approval of Kasim Ahmed’s registration highlights that local authorities evaluate applicants on an individual basis rather than applying automated exclusions for past criminal records.
Glasgow City Council and Local Policy
This development could lead to heightened political scrutiny over how Glasgow City Council’s Licensing Committee exercises its statutory discretion. Elected representatives may face calls from community groups or housing campaigners to publish clearer evaluation frameworks regarding past criminal convictions. Moving forward, local authorities across Scotland may review their criteria for assessing landlord applications involving serious non-property-management criminal offenses.
