These two houses look similar enough. They both have three bedrooms, a lounge, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and similar-sized gardens.

Both homes in Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, are owned by Brighton and Hove Council.

But there is one big difference between them - £10 a week in rent.

The house where Jayne Smith lives with her family costs £54 a week. But her next door neighbour pays the council £44.

A few doors down the road at number 39, where Mrs Smith's friend soon hopes to move to, the rent is £46 a week.

But when Mrs Smith first called Brighton and Hove Council to find out why, she was simply told: "Well, they vary."

The mum-of-three said: "I don't understand why three properties which are the same size on the same street have different rents.

"I am grateful to only pay £54 a week for my house but the unequal rents just don't seem fair."

Now investigations by the Argus have revealed that a similar situation of inconsistent council rents could be happening in many streets across Brighton and Hove.

And at the moment, the council do not plan to do anything to put them right.

A spokesman said: "This is not a rare occurrence at all. The apparent anomalies stem from the fact different properties have had various types of modernisation and improvement works done to them over the years."

Work carried out on homes in the past by the council was often done after previous tenants of the properties asked for it.

In return the council said rent for particular properties had often increased a little.

But percentage rises over the years have meant higher rents have gradually built up and the gap has widened.

A council spokesman said: "In some cases improvements resulted in increases in rents which have become more marked over the years.

"We are not considering harmonising them at this stage."

But Mrs Smith, who lives with her husband and children, said the council's comments had explained the unequal rents - but not excused them.

This week the council sent her a letter stating that although her rent was higher than some paid for similar houses in the area, other tenants living nearby paid even more.

It read: "There are several other houses in your immediate area with the same rent, some with higher and some with lower rent.

"This is not unusual and happens in many areas."

Council houses were assessed for rent in 1972, based on the number of bedrooms, floor space, location, and whether amenities were nearby. By 1987 modernisation works meant council house rents varied.

Mrs Smith said: "I wouldn't mind if I could see a difference between the properties, but I can't."