A PROPOSAL for a trial scheme to enable a local authority to buy back former council homes is to be considered by councillors.

The idea is aimed at providing more affordable rented housing for people on Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing register by bringing homes sold under Right to Buy back into local authority ownership.

Members of the council’s housing and new homes committee agreed the proposed “home purchase policy” at a meeting on Wednesday.

It will now go to the policy, resources and growth committee on October 12 for final approval.

If the proposed one-year trial gets the go ahead, the budget would be set at £2 million and the council would look at buying back homes up to a maximum of £250,000.

Properties would be independently valued and people selling would benefit from a quick sale with no chain. The scheme would be reviewed next year.

Councillor Anne Meadows, committee chairwoman, said: “This proposal is another way in which we could provide more homes to rent. Anything that brings us more social housing is fantastic for the city. Even if only a small number of properties is involved, it all adds up, and for eight families on our housing register it could mean a new home.”

Money for buying homes would come from the council’s housing revenue account and the properties could be used to provide temporary accommodation or permanent homes.