Council tenants and leaseholders in Hammersmith and Fulham will be offered the opportunity to take more control of their homes.

A consultation is to be launched exploring ways for people living in 12,500 homes and 4,600 leasehold properties to have more say over how their homes are run.

Politicians will look into the different options available to give residents more control and following a full consultation a ballot on final proposals will be held before any decisions are made.

The council’s Labour cabinet gave the thumbs up to the consultation on Monday (1) but the Conservative opposition immediately raised concerns over the cost, saying tenants would be saddled with million of pounds of increased debt if a new landlord stepped in which they say could jeopardise the security of residents’ homes.

They highlighted how the National Audit Office says it typically costs £1,300 to improve homes after a transfer which would mean an extra £16 million cost for tenants if applied to the entire housing stock.

Councillor Lisa Homan, the council’s Labour housing chief, said: “We are committed to devolving more control to residents.

“We will ensure that tenants and leaseholders will be fully involved in an accountable and transparent process, and any recommendation leading to a substantial change will be put to a ballot.”

The Conservatives housing spokesman, Councillor Marcus Ginn, said: “I am concerned the Labour run council is spending millions of pounds of council taxpayer’s money on a bureaucratic exercise, instead of continuing the work of the last administration to improve the quality and maintenance of our social housing.”

A new residents’ commission needs independent experts and members of the public to give evidence to see what people would like. E-mail housing.consultation@lbhf.gov.uk