THOUSANDS of council tenants will be consulted on a proposed housing shake-up designed to improve the quality of their homes.

Wear Valley District Council needs to change the way its housing stock is managed because it cannot afford the work to bring the 5,400 homes up to the Government's Decent Home Standard.

The council's director of housing services, Michael Laing, said: "It would be a constant struggle to try to meet the minimum requirements. People tell us they want more - double-glazed windows, fencing and street lights are not included -so changes must be made to make these improvements."

After a first round of consultation with tenants proved inconclusive, the council decided to put the issue out for further debate.

Tenants will be offered two choices: Large scale voluntary transfer would see the council homes transferred to a housing association that could access funds for improvements; or an arms- length management organisation could be set up by the council to manage the stock.

The authority would still own the homes, but an independent management company could seek extra funding to meet the improved standards.

The decision to only include two out of the possible four options available in the survey has been criticised by Norman Button, secretary of the Woodhouse Close Estate Residents' Group, in Bishop Auckland.

He said: "There are four options, including a private initiative and the council keeping all stock. I want tenants to be asked if they want to stay with the council.

"I am disappointed, but not surprised the council would mislead tenants using outdated facts and figures, in view of Audit Commission reports which state 'detailed information about stock condition and which homes are decent is lacking'.

"How can they make an opinion unless all this information is presented together?"

Mr Laing said: "The information packs and questionnaires being sent out have been checked by the independent Community Housing Task Force to ensure they are not biased and all the information is correct and up-to- date."

An open day on the issue will be held at Crook Civic Centre on Friday, May 28.