A COUNCIL is to lobby the Government in a bid to get more money to repair its council houses.

Wear Valley District Council says it will need twice as much funding to bring its homes up to Decent Home Standards as laid down by the Government in time for a 2010 deadline.

The council is having to look at the possibility of transferring its council homes over to private housing associations.

Councillor Belle Bousfield, chairman of housing for the council, said: "The Government's finance rules are starving council housing of cash.

"Housing customers in Wear Valley put £3m back into the Government's coffers every year.

"We want to keep our houses, but we need more money to modernise and repair them."

The call for more money comes after a study by an independent consultant showed that stock transfer could be the most viable long-term option for the council as it struggles to meet the deadline.

The authority is starting a widespread consultation process with its housing residents about the future.

Under the Decent Home Standards policy all local housing authorities are expected to raise the standards of properties in deprived areas by 2004 and by 2010 they need to have reached the criteria set for all housing.

One suggestion is that the management of council houses be handed over to private housing associations, or for tenants to form their own.

But tenants must first be consulted before this can happen and their thoughts taken into account when making the final decision.

Coun Bousfield said: "The Government's rules are very unfair. I wish that we had the same freedom as housing associations or other landlords.

"We are lobbying the Government to try and change the system.''

Eddie Stobbs, chairman of the housing customer panel at Wear Valley, said: "This is a big decision for all housing customers. The council is being even handed and is going to consult.

"I want customers to make an informed choice. The housing panel will be watching this very carefully.''