A HOUSING association has stepped in to make life more comfortable for tenants living in misery.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Times, the residents of Glasgow's Kelvindale Place were surrounded by rubbish, rodents and graffiti.

The housing group has removed rubbish and cut the overgrown grass, which stood at least 2ft tall in some places.

The homes are due to be demolished as soon as the tenants move to new homes at Maryhill Locks, but the residents are still waiting for a moving date from their new landlords Maryhill Housing Association (MHA).

GHA area director Jackie Morris said: "We know this is a difficult time and we will keep doing everything we possibly can to help until their new homes are ready.

"We'd like to assure the tenants that if they have any issues they should just get in touch. We are carrying out regular clean ups and will respond as quickly as we can to any repair issues.

"We've also put in place support such as fuel advice to keep their bills as low as possible and the offer of alternative accommodation until their new homes are ready."

Alexis Robb, one of the street's residents, said: "They're cutting the grass and have taken away all the rubbish, they are doing what they can to help us out. City Building has also let me view my new home, but unfortunately we still haven't heard from MHA."

Despite the improvements, a disagreement still lingers with new landlords MHA and contractors City Building about when the 11 remaining residents can move.

A spokesman for City Building said the properties are ready, while MHA said the new homes are not up to their standard.

A statement from MHA said it is seeking an "urgent explanation" from City Building boss Graham Paterson over claims the properties are ready.

A spokesman for MHA said: "City Building is incorrect to claim that these properties are finished and we have repeatedly advised the organisation of this in recent weeks.

"On Monday we learned that 12 of around 38 homes had now received completion certificates from building control. That still leaves many more which cannot be regarded as finished.

"We remain determined to ensure that City Building meets its contractual obligations to complete the remaining homes so that our tenants can move in.

"It is this delay which is causing the hold up.

"Maryhill Housing Association, meanwhile, is firmly focused on keeping our tenants in Kelvindale Place fully up to date and we hope to have this matter resolved in the coming weeks. We are actively trying to speed things up."

A spokesman for City Building said: "We received confirmation from Building Control that all the houses on Site 8 at Maryhill Locks are constructed to their satisfaction with paperwork to follow.

"We will be working alongside Maryhill Housing Association to ensure tenants are moved into their new homes as quickly as possible."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk