A CONTROVERSIAL policy that could raise rents for council tenants on higher incomes in Winchester could be put in place.

Housing chiefs are mulling over whether to introduce a "pay to stay" policy.

The controversial plans were scrapped by the Government last November, as originally it was set to be mandatory for councils.

The government said that it did not meet the aim of supporting working class families and saving money for the tax payer.

Now councils and housing associations must decide whether to introduce it in Winchester and the city council is gathering data on whether pay to stay could work for households who earn more than £60,000 per year.

At the Winchester City Council cabinet housing committee, council leader Caroline Horrill said: "I have asked my officers to look at what it will mean for us to implement and if that is a change that we have to look at, there's a huge concern how we gather that information accurately and fairly."

Liberal Democrat city councillor Jackie Porter raised concerns.

Cllr Porter said: "I hope Winchester City Council does not bring the pay to stay strategy."

Last year when the scheme was scrapped by Whitehall the the policy was to apply to all households earning more than £40,000 in London while outside the capital the threshold was £31,000.

Meanwhile bosses have promised to build more homes than they are losing under Right to Buy.

At the meeting concerns were raised that there is not enough social housing, but council chiefs said they are doing all they can to replace properties being sold.

It is understood that the council will lose 37 homes to Right to Buy this year.

Deputy council leader and councillor Vicki Weston asked: "We have lost 37 homes under Right to Buy this year, how many of our new houses are going to be one of those?"

Head of housing finance Bob Gath said: "None of our new houses are under Right to Buy, although we did lose one in Compton."

Cllr Horrill, who is also portfolio member for housing, said:"Wherever we can do to make the numbers work we are doing, we know there are individuals waiting for a long time for housing units to become available."

Fellow council officer Richard Botham said:"We are building more than we are losing as far as identifying other sites we are always in a search for new sites."