THOUSANDS of people have backed a grieving East End woman’s battle to be allowed to move into her late mother’s home – which is just next door.

Andrena McInnes, 39, from Tollcross, lost her mum just two days after Christmas and now faces losing the property which has been in her family for 33 years.

She has pleaded with Tollcross Housing Association (THA) to allow her to swap homes as her mother's house is just one gate along from her.

However, the carer said bosses are not allowing the seemingly straightforward move to happen.

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A petition set up by Andrena has so far gathered nearly 7,000 signatures, something she said she is “overwhelmed” with.

In a heart-rending story, a tearful Andrena, 39, described how her mum, Mary, succumbed to “Australian flu” on December 27 at the age of 63 after falling ill suddenly on Christmas Eve.

She told the Evening Times: “I’m just heartbroken. My brother passed away in that house three years ago at the age of just 37. It’s been in my family for years.

“My housing officer is on my Facebook page and didn’t comment at all when I broke the news of my mum’s passing.

“The housing was closed over the festive period, but I was the first one down there when it opened on January 4.

Glasgow Times:
Andrena McInnes (right) with her mum Mary (left)

“The woman I spoke to looked at me like my cat had just died and I was told I can fill out a transfer application, but that it’ll never go through.”

The house her mum lived in has been adapted to accommodate a disabled or elderly person, but the resident upstairs owns the land and has informed THA he is making changes, meaning it will no longer be fully fit for a wheelchair user or older person.

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Her mum’s has a wet room which she has been told still classes it as fit for a disabled or elderly resident, but Andrena said she’s insisted to pay for it.

She also added how her local MP has intervened to get in touch with THA, but has received no reply.

The thought of not getting her mum’s house is too much to bear for Andrena.

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Breaking down, she said: “Mum’s funeral is on Friday and I can’t take the thought of seeing someone else live there. I’m sitting in her chair right now. The housing would need to move me. It would knock me ill.”

In a final plea to THA bosses, Andrena said: “I just don’t understand why there can’t be a straight swap. My home was adapted for a disabled person, but they moved me in here so I could be close to my mum. I don’t get why they can’t just do the same for me.”

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

To sign Andrena's petition please CLICK HERE