A Government scheme to bring social housing up to reasonable standards could leave people homeless, it has been claimed.

And Chris Bovey, a partner with Midland law firm MFG Solicitors, says it is threatening to become a problem.

Hundreds who bought former council flats in England are receiving bills for thousands of pounds for repairs they cannot afford. The work is being carried out for the Decent Homes initiative.

 The Government says it recognises the problem and has put measures in place. Most of the examples to date have been from the South-east, but the fear is the Midlands could be vulnerable.

In one instance involving a tower block in Westminster the tenant decided to buy his flat for £40,000. Now, the block is being extensively renovated, and as a leaseholder he is liable for his share of the £6 million cost. That is estimated at £58,000, three times his household income.

He has been given three years to pay, but says he cannot afford to. In Hackney in East London other leaseholders are being pursued for work which has been completed.

They are being asked for £24,000 on flats bought for £58,000 in 1998.

Mr Bovey said: “This is a big one. This involves people who have bought flats at discounted prices for the most part. They are being hit for large amounts of money per individual.”

The Government was pressing councils and housing associations to carry out repairs but had not fully thought through the consequences.

And these often took in substantial improvements involving the wider area including access, lighting and landscaping. But tenants who bought flats often could not meet the bills, and would not be able to extend their mortgage.

While councils were giving perhaps three years to pay this was not nearly long enough.

“It needs to be more like ten years,” said Mr Bovey. The Department for Communities and Local Government said the Government had spent £23 billion on improving social housing.