A proposal for a trial scheme to enable Brighton and Hove City Council 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 the city’s housing register, by bringing homes sold under Right to Buy back in to council ownership.

Members of the council’s housing and new homes committee will consider the proposed home purchase policy at a meeting on September 20, before it goes to the policy, resources and growth committee on October 12.

If the proposed one year trial gets the go-ahead, the council could buy back four homes, each costing up to a maximum of £250,000.

Properties would be independently valued and people selling would benefit from a quick sale with no chain.

Councillor Anne Meadows, chair of the Housing and New Homes Committee, said: “We are already building new council homes in the city, and 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 four families on our housing register it could mean a new home.”

The scheme would be reviewed next year.