More than £12 million is being spent on council housing in Brighton and Hove - even though the stock could soon be sold.

The city council is spending the equivalent of just under £1,000 per house on repairs and maintenance.

Tenants will vote next year on whether to transfer control of their housing, which the council admits it is struggling to fund.

An estimated £650 million of investment is needed in the next 30 years to modernise the 13,000 homes.

In a report to the housing management sub-committee, officers have detailed £12.3 million of spending for 2003 to 2004.

This includes about £900,000 on new heating systems, £650,000 on adaptations for the disabled, £480,000 on new windows in Whitehawk, £250,000 on sheltered housing schemes and £100,000 on replacement kitchens.

Councillor Jack Hazelgrove, chairman of the housing committee, said: "Until such time as a decision is made on the future of the housing stock, we will continue carrying out repairs."

There are four options for the future of the housing - an organisation made up of councillors and tenants, transfer of stock to housing associations, a private contractor brought in to manage and maintain the homes or for things to remain the same.