More than 5,000 council homes 'at risk' in Rotherham

Rotherham Council say one in five households in the town rely on council housing

More than 5,000 council homes could be lost in Rotherham over the next 30 years, councillors have said.

A report by the authority claims its housing stock could drop from about 21,000 properties to 15,500.

Council leader Chris Read blamed national welfare and housing policy changes, including a 1% rent reduction expected to cost the authority £638m.

A government spokesman said the changes in the Housing Act 2016 would help people buy their own homes.

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According to the council, it must save £16m a year over the next 30 years to accommodate the policy alterations.

It has said the majority of its savings would be made as "stock is sold and costs are no longer incurred for ongoing repairs, maintenance and investment".

The savings demands will also result in a £273m cut in property investment and a £98m drop in funding for supervision and management, it said.

Mr Read said: "I think this is the Tory government doing what Tory governments do.

"They want to see the state shrunk, they don't understand the role that councils play in providing housing for people and they think everyone can afford to buy their own home.

"In Rotherham one in five households depend on council housing and that number is likely to grow in the future, but that's a need we will not be able to meet because of the changes the government has put in place."

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said more council housing had been built since 2010 than in the previous 13 years and the new Housing Act would "help anyone who aspires to own their own home achieve their dream."

He said: "It will increase housing supply alongside home ownership and build on the largest affordable house building programme since the 1970s."