An Innovative plan to improve two tenement blocks in a Dundee housing scheme before they are put up for sale will be considered by councillors next week.

The housing committee will be asked to agree a plan which could result in around £100,000 profit being ploughed back into improvements to council houses across the city.

Jimmy Black, convener of Dundee City Council's housing committee said: "This is the first time we have tried something like this, but having taken a long and thorough look at the situation, I believe we have arrived at a solution that benefits everyone.

"Clearly from the council's point of view if these flats are sold at current market value we will have money to invest in our continuing efforts to bring every local authority house in the city up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

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"But it also means that there will be five newly refurbished and upgraded flats for sale that would be ideal for first time buyers, who can get help to get a foot on the property ladder by applying to the council's mortgage scheme."

The flats at 17 Buttars Place, Charleston are currently uninhabitable because of a fire earlier this year.

A report by Elaine Zwirlein, director of housing reveals that the council wants to minimise rent loss from the empty flats, re-house existing tenants and make best use of scarce revenue and capital resources and deliver best value to the Housing Revenue Account.

Considering these non financial goals, improvement for sale came out top.It was considered the best of four options outlined in the report, which were to do nothing, repair flats to SHQS for rent, demolish or improve for sale.

Sales data on similar flats in the area discovered the lowest price was £55,000, while the highest was £76,000. If each of the flats was sold for the lowest price the council would make £89,000 and there is the potential for additional surplus if higher sales prices are achieved.

(GK)