OWNERS of "blighted" homes bought from St Albans District Council may never be able to sell them.

Many mortgage companies refuse to fund the purchase of houses built from concrete because of fears over low standards of construction and poor materials.

Former St Albans council tenants who bought such homes under the Right to Buy scheme are now calling on the council for help after prospective buyers dropped out because they could not get a mortgage.

Portfolio holder for housing Councillor Roma Mills said: "To describe this situation as a blight is not unreasonable. These people are stuck with houses which they cannot sell. If they are unable to sell them on the open market they may be forced to put them up for auction and they may fetch much less than they are worth.

"Although the council no longer has any liability for the homes, I think we have a moral obligation to explore ways to help these people, maybe even buying the houses back or subsidising the required structural engineer's report."

Ms Joan Gabriel and Ms Margaret Lowry each own one of the leasehold concrete flats in Chiltern Road, St Albans. They said many of their neighbours have had sales repeatedly fall through in recent months.

Ms Lowry said: "It's really frustrating. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the construction of these flats. They are lovely inside and very spacious."

Ms Gabriel added: "I am not planning to sell at the moment but I would like to think I could some day.

"The council still owns the building regardless of who owns the flats and it has a responsibility for them."

During 1960's post-war Britain concrete buildings sprung up all over the country as architects sought fast, effective, new building materials.

St Albans council built 119 homes using a method known as the Belfry System. This involves using pre-cast concrete slabs that are slid into place between metal supports.

The council has sold 64 of these homes to former tenants since the 1980's, in areas such Park Street, Cotswold Close and Marshalswick .

Mortgage companies fears' arose from a 1987 report by the Bricket Wood-based Building Research Establishment (BRE) that said all concrete structures had the potential for low quality construction and materials.

However, the BRE report made no direct reference to the Belfry system. In 2001 the district council carried out a survey on the condition of properties and found they were in good condition. But mortgage companies are insisting on a full report from a structural engineer before a loan is considered. These reports cost £1,000.

Council officers will present a report to the council cabinet in June.