SUPPORT workers were placed in a controversial homeless hostel where poor living conditions were highlighted by residents.

The Glasgow Times told in June how the Queens Park Hotel earns its owner £1m a year in taxpayers' money for accommodating people on behalf of the council.

Residents had shared pictures of the housing standards inside the B&B while locals told of misery caused by anti-social behaviour.

At a residents meeting in June, attended by this paper, the community made direct appeals for support to council staff and Police Scotland.

READ MORE: 'Hell' of living next to controversial Queens Park Hotel

In response, Glasgow City Council has now said it placed two support workers in the hotel for two days last week.

They were on site to provide support for benefits and health issues directly to people living there.

Officers from the homelessness team also attended at the Queens Park Hotel and carried out an inspection.

Normally checks would only cover a small sample of one or two rooms but a council spokeswoman said every room was checked.

Council staff said they found threadbare carpets, which owners were ordered to replace, and instructed that painting and repairs of doors and windows must be carried out within six weeks.

It is understood the hotel's owners, Harhill Ltd, have now completed the work.

But a council insider said teams would be re-visiting the hotel shortly to carry out a second spot check.

A council spokesperson said: “The council is duty bound to find and provide emergency accommodation to those who present as homeless.

"To do this means using a range of establishments in the city.

"All homeless people placed in either hotel or B&B establishments receive support from caseworkers and our homelessness team liaises directly with the accommodation operators on a routine basis.

"We also work with the owners of the establishments to ensure accommodation is of an acceptable standard.

"When such standards are not met, we expect owners to put remedial actions in place."

The spokesperson flagged that the council has pledged to end the use of B&Bs and is looking to speed up plans to put in place alternative accommodation.

At June's public meeting, organised by Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council, residents said living by the hotel was "torture".

As well as concern for their own health and wellbeing, they shared fears for people living in the building.

READ MORE: Man evicted from Queens Park Hotel on Glasgow's Southside

Vandalism, rubbish, theft and anti-social behaviour were all raised as issues, alongside public drug-taking and public urination.

One hotel resident who attended that meeting told of a lack of access to cooking facilities and only being given one bath towel a week.

From September 30 last year to May 15 this year there were 221 occasions when people stayed at the Queens Park Hotel for more than seven days, in contravention of Scottish housing law.

The Glasgow Times first told in 2007 about similar problems with crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Balvicar Street building was owned by businessman Alistair McKever but his firm went bust in 2009 and new owners took over.

Management of the hotel was invited to the meeting but did not attend.

They were also contacted for comment.

Glasgow City Council pays £350 per week to house a person in the Queens Park Hotel, which has 58 rooms that can generate more than £1m per year for its owners.