PROPERTIES that are difficult to let could be furnished by the council to make them more attractive to prospective tenants.

Darlington Borough Council is hoping to set up a trial of the Furnished Tenancy Project for 20 properties.

The houses will be let furnished and with white goods such as washing machines and fridges, as well as carpets, in a bid to give tenants a pride in their accommodation.

It is also hoped the homes will reduce the number of people who refuse to take on council houses because they cannot afford basic furniture.

Cliff Brown, the council's director of community services, said: "There is evidence that furnished accommodation encourages settlement within a community and substantially helps some individuals to take up and maintain tenancies.

"It also promotes the welfare of tenants and their families and is an effective anti-poverty measures. In general, the experience of other authorities is that tenants will stay longer in their accommodation if they have furniture."

People, who are homeless will be referred for the accommodation, as will those on the housing waiting list.

Mr Brown said: "The scheme is initially aimed at those who are less likely to succeed in a council tenancy because they have special needs, such as mental health problems, disability, domestic violence, leading institutional care or other special reasons."

Between £2,000 and £3,000 will be used to decorate and furnish the houses.

Councillors will decide whether to support the project at a meeting today