Hotel not fit for homeless teenager after hospital stay

Kyle Taylor, 19, was homeless and was placed in the Smith’s Hotel in Sauchiehall Street.

He spent two weeks in the hotel and was then admitted to hospital.

Kyle said the conditions in the hotel were poor, with rat traps around the building, including under his bed.

He was also housed there for 14 days, twice the number permitted under housing law and whereafter it becomes classed as unsuitable accommodation.

Kyle Taylor pictured in his flat in Glasgow. Photograph by Colin Mearns 15th July 2026 For Glasgow Times, see story by Stewart Paterson (Image: Colin Mearns)

Kyle told the Glasgow Times: “I was there for two weeks. I know my rights regarding homelessness.

“The hotel accommodation was really bad. There were rat traps under the bed.”

Kyle contacted the Glasgow Times to highlight his issues before he was admitted to hospital.

Kyle Taylor pictured outside his flat in Glasgow. Photograph by Colin Mearns 15th July 2026 For Glasgow Times, see story by Stewart Paterson (Image: Colin Mearns)

He said: “I feel I have been let down by Glasgow City Council.

“After making a homelessness application, I was placed in hotel accommodation while waiting for a temporary flat.

“I was told this would be temporary, but I have now spent around two weeks in the hotel with no clear date for when I will be moved into more suitable accommodation.

“I suffer from mental health problems and epilepsy, and I also have previous trauma linked to staying in hotel accommodation.

“The longer I remain in the hotel, the more my mental health is affected. The uncertainty and lack of progress have left me feeling distressed and forgotten.”

Kyle was then admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and treated for liver and kidney problems.

Only then after interventions from the housing support worker and the hospital was he provided with a temporary furnished flat.

Kyle Taylor pictured in his flat in Glasgow. Photograph by Colin Mearns 15th July 2026 For Glasgow Times, see story by Stewart Paterson (Image: Colin Mearns)

Kyle added: “I appreciate that there is pressure on housing services and a shortage of available accommodation, but I feel that vulnerable people should not be left waiting in circumstances that are damaging to their health and wellbeing.

 "I am sharing my story in the hope that greater attention is given to the experiences of homeless people who are left waiting for suitable accommodation.

“No one facing homelessness should have to endure prolonged uncertainty while their health deteriorates as they wait for appropriate housing support.”

Kyle said he was helped by Govan Law Centre, which took up his case and ensured he was not sent back to the hotel.

 A spokesperson for the centre said: "This particular young man was already known to local government, and it is disappointing that he was placed in a hotel and something more suitable was not offered to him prior to our intervention.

"We are concerned about the many people who do not have advocacy or legal support. There are many statutory breaches by the council every day in relation to the homeless legislation that we must challenge."

Shelter Scotland provides advice on the rules around temporary accommodation and when it becomes classed as unsuitable.

It states: “After seven days, most temporary accommodation is only legally suitable if all of the following standards are met.

• You can access it 24 hours a day - for example, there's no curfew.
• You have access to a kitchen, a living room and a private bathroom.
• It has enough bedrooms for your family – this could be different to the number of bedrooms you’ll need in a permanent home
• It’s suitable for your children to visit, if you have parental rights but they're not living with you.
• It’s in the council area you applied to - unless you have agreed to stay elsewhere.
• You can still travel to work, school, health or support services."

Hotels and B&Bs are deemed to be unsuitable after seven days.

Because there is a shortage of homes to move people into in Glasgow, the unsuitable accommodation order is being breached daily.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The decision to accommodate Mr Taylor in a temporary furnished flat was taken as part of our multi-disciplinary assessment process, and our engagement with the service user, not the hospital.”