Carer loses fight to move into her late mum’s home

A TOLLCROSS woman who was battling with her local housing association to allow her to move into her late mother’s home which is next door to her has lost her fight.

The decision comes as her local MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, John Mason, also intervened by writing a letter to housing bosses.

The Evening Times exclusively reported last week on the story of Andrena McInnes and how thousands backed the grieving East End woman’s cause to be allowed to move into her mum’s home just one gate along.

The 39-year-old lost her mum, Mary, just two days after Christmas and fought to keep the property which her family has lived in for 33 years.

She pleaded with Tollcross Housing Association to allow her to swap homes.

Andrena’s fate hung in the balance before she met with housing director Michael Byrne and manager Maureen Barns on Monday.

A petition set up by Andrena had gathered more than 7200 signatures, something she said she was “overwhelmed” with.

Too upset to speak, she said in an email: “I’ve to hand my mum’s keys in. They’ve got someone in mind for it. I’ve to hand in a transfer note and anything else I’ve got, including the petition.”

She explained: “The person they have in mind on their list has 125 points and needs a low down house with wet room.

“It doesn’t matter how many signatures I get or how many papers I go to, I’ve not got enough points it comes down to it. No compassion for our family home.”

When contacted by the Evening Times, a THA staff member said they could not comment on individual cases.

Mr Mason, however, described being “puzzled by this whole thing”.

He said: “I do accept some people are very attached to the building they were brought up in.

“However, the housing association is the owner of both properties. They have policies in place and they have reconsidered the decision.

“They have done what anyone could expect them to do and I am not sure what other steps Ms McInnes can take.”