![\"Neighbours](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_35166ca2-b354-49c0-b86f-32093865011bjpeg.jpg\")
Neighbours in Queen Square complained of ‘sex parties’ at the flat in Strathbungo <\/p>\nNeighbours say they were forced to listen to “loud sex noises” at the plush Strathbungo property.<\/p>\n
13:02, 08 May 2025Updated 13:36, 08 May 2025<\/p>\n
Neighbours in Queen Square complained of ‘sex parties’ at the flat in Strathbungo <\/p>\n
Nicola Sturgeon<\/a> has supported fed-up neighbours in objecting to a Glasgow flat used for “sex parties” being granted a HMO licence.<\/p>\n The former first minister registered her complaint to the city council in her role as local MSP for leafy Strathbungo<\/a> in Glasgow’s southside.<\/p>\n More than a dozen objections were lodged by residents in Queen Square and local politicians after the property’s owner applied for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the application was rejected after a neighbour told how she heard “multiple people” having “really loud sex” – and complained there were a dozen tenants in the flat in just two years.<\/p>\n Holly Ritchie, who has lived in the listed tenement in the posh suburb<\/a> for 13 years, said her family were living in a “state of anxiety” due to the situation.<\/p>\n “It has become quite uncomfortable,” she told councillors. “We have heard noise and noisy sex. There were sex parties. Six people were having sex above. Everyone could hear it.<\/p>\n “I would feel anxiety about returning home.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Stephen Flynn denies SNP leadership bid as he praises John Swinney as ‘best politician in Scotland’<\/a>READ MORE: Scottish independence rears its head again as John Swinney talks up IndyRef2 prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Sturgeon, who has been MSP for Glasgow Southside since 2007, was one of 18 objectors.<\/p>\n The ex-SNP leader lodged a written objection to landlord William McDevitt’s application.<\/p>\n Ritchie, who lives next door to the flat, told councillors: “This is our home – I don’t want to move. It is a listed building over looking the park.”<\/p>\n Another objector, Ms Belshaw, told a planning committee the three bedroom property had been “a revolving door for several years” and was operating as an illegal HMO.”<\/p>\n She said: “It has been hard as a woman walking in and out of the close not knowing who is going to be there.”<\/p>\n She accused landlord McDevitt – who lives across the landing from the flat he rents out – of causing neighbours stress.:<\/p>\n “I don’t believe he understands the character of tenants,” she added.<\/p>\n The meeting was told neighbours had no issue with the property’s current tenants.<\/p>\n Ritchie said there were previously “12 different tenants in two years.” and described incidents when she had to endure listening to “really loud sex.”<\/p>\n She added: “It would be multiple people have sex.”<\/p>\n Replying to Ritchie’s concerns, McDevitt said: “I heard sex noises but I was unaware of a sex party.”<\/p>\n Pollokshields councillors Hanif Raja, Zen Ghani, Jon Molyneux and Norman MacLeod also objected to the licence.<\/p>\n The council’s HMO unit found the property was being rented as an unlicensed HMO following a complaint but Mr McDevitt denies that.<\/p>\n The meeting heard he applied for a HMO licence after it was discovered there were more people staying in the property than allowed.<\/p>\n After consideration the committee refused the new HMO licence.<\/p>\n