LOOKING to sell your home? Fife Council could be a potential buyer.

They're in the market for property to ensure there's enough affordable homes in the Kingdom.

Up to now, the only reason former council houses or private properties were bought – and normally demolished – was to enable regeneration or new build schemes to take place.

That's already happened in Fraser Avenue, in Inverkeithing, where 14 flats and two houses were re-purchased and then knocked down to make way for new housing.

But last Tuesday, councillors backed a change in policy which would also allow the council to buy residential properties to prevent homelessness, where there is a specific need or where there is significant housing pressure and limited opportunities to build new homes.

And they admitted they "may be proactive in seeking houses to buy".

Head of housing John Mills explained: "The proposed policy approach to purchase residential properties will assist the council to meet its statutory housing duties, to promote affordable housing options in particularly rural localities in Fife where practically new housebuilding is very difficult."

He added: "It is important to note that the proposed policy is not an approach designed to buy significant numbers of properties to support the affordable housing programme, but is targeted to where the highest benefit to the council will accrue."

The council will now consult with tenants about the move.