A HOMELESSNESS charity claims it is being left without a home following a row with its landlord.

The Marie Trust, based in Glasgow city centre, is appealing for help as it is being forced to move from its headquarters over a lease dispute.

But landlords The Wayside Club, which let the building for free, dispute the claims and counter that it has done all it can to help.

Frances McKinlay of The Marie Trust said the charity was given notice to quit the premises by the Wayside Club in April but asked the landlords for an extension.

The charity was aware that a move would be likely in the future as the building was becoming less fit for purpose but because of the lockdown it was unable to look for new premises.

Anywhere it has found, Frances said, has had such high rent that The Marie Trust has not been able to put an offer in.

The Wayside Club has offered a further extension on the lease but that a clause written in to the contract makes it impossible to accept.

Frances said: "It was absolutely heartbreaking to find this out, it really was.

"We are so shocked beyond words that we are in this situation."

The Marie Trust said it had asked to extend its lease to April 30, 2021.

But on October 31, the day before the extended lease was due to start, it claims the lease terms were changed by the Wayside Club to include a term that would be in breach of employment regulations for its staff.

The charity now has 15 working days to pack its belongings and leave the building.

It said the situation leaves it homeless but also with a funding shortfall as it searches for new premises.

A spokesman for the Wayside Club said: "We are at a loss as to why the Marie Trust Board are making this claim.

Glasgow Times:

"We have offered them an extension of their free tenancy for a further six months on three occasions, this offer was repeated just two weeks ago, but they declined.

"We have arranged meetings to offer our assistance with their current situation.

"We wish them every success for the future and hope our charity - made up of volunteers only - can continue to work with The Marie Trust in the near future with our constant aim of supporting the homeless and vulnerable of Glasgow, as we have done tirelessly throughout the pandemic and over the last 80 years."

The Marie Trust stayed open right through the lockdown to support vulnerable people who needed help, the only homelessness charity offering face-to-face support.

It said it serves around 90 people a day who need crisis support, food parcels, masks and access to the charity's pharmacy.

The Marie Trust offers a range of services. Its training kitchen is currently closed but its counselling services and health and wellbeing services are still underway.

Frances said the charity's crisis intervention services are most affected by the disruption but staff are still visiting B&Bs in the city where its clients have been housed during the pandemic.

Bosses are now setting up a fundraising page for public support.