Cash-strapped Basildon Council looks set to save money by offloading homes which need major repair work.

The authority hopes to make a dent in its estimated £1.3 million housing debt for the next financial year by transferring properties to a housing association.

Homes affected would be those needing more than £10,000 of structural work to bring them up to scratch.

The council's structural engineers say that over the past few years they have been faced with large repair bills for individual homes.

It has been a big problem since the transfer of properties to the authority from the Commission for New Towns.

The engineers estimate that more than £15 million will need to be earmarked every year to carry out the vital works.

In some cases the council has already opted to pass properties on, without any money changing hands, to housing associations who can afford to make large investments in refurbishment work.

Officers believe the best way forward now is to transfer its remaining homes in need of repair.

A council spokesman said the move was a win-win situation for everyone involved and a positive way forward.

He said: "The council has 13,000 homes and a handful of properties, which need more than £10,000 of repairs, would be transferred each year.

"They would be transferred to housing associations which have access to funding opportunities we don't, and can bring the homes up to a decent standard.

"It will be beneficial to everybody - the homes will be repaired but the council will still be able to nominate people from the waiting list to use them."

The spokesman added that the effect of the transfer on the £1.3 million difference between the council's housing income and what it wants to spend would be minimal.

He said: "The £1.3 million is a ballpark figure. It's very early in the year and a lot depends on the receipts from the sale of land and other council assets.

"The council is always trying to find alternative sources of funding."

Basildon's housing committee will discuss the proposals tonight.

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