A COUNCIL is promising to bring two empty homes back into use after a man’s repeated attempts to buy them.

Steven Lawrence, 51, from Billericay, has made numerous attempts to purchase a bungalow in Church Road, Laindon, from the council so he can rennovate it and move in, but his offer has not be taken up.

The home, which is managed by St Georges Community Housing, has been sitting empty for about seven years after its previous elderly owner passed away.

Mr Lawerence has also offered to pay the council £75,000 to buy another empty three-bedroomed house, in Rectory Road, Pitsea, over the past 14 years.

The council has refused to sell, saying it wanted to let it out to a family on the council waiting list, but it too remains empty.

Mr Lawerence said: “I just can’t understand why the council is refusing to sell any of the homes to me. This is very frustrating. If I had the chance to buy one of them, I could help bring the homes back up to a good standard.”

Shelia Holmes, 84, who lives next door to the empty Church Road property said the house should not be left empty.

She said: “There are a lot of people who need to be rehoused and plenty of families who are in need of a home.

“It is not right the home has been left empty for so long.”

James Hawton, development officer at Basildon Council, said it was looking into how it can bring the homes back into use.

He said: “It is vital for the community, and the many families on the council’s housing waiting list, that the council continues in its commitment to provide affordable housing.

“Therefore, it is not always appropriate to sell empty properties on to private buyers.

“We are exploring a number of options to bring our empty properties back into use.

“This includes partnership working and transfer to a housing association, both of which would ensure the homes are brought back into use as affordable housing.”