The government has announced a £1.5 billion boost to improve sub-standard homes around England.

Housing minister Keith Hill has revealed plans to support local authority housing.

Under the proposals, councils will give up responsibility for the day-to-day management of housing.

The cash will go direct to housing associations and property developers as part of a drive to upgrade 185,000 homes by 2010.

Arms-length management organisations will be created by 10 councils including Camden and Warrington.

Continuing with the now-familiar "stakeholder" idea, tenants will take up a third of the boards that run them, local clergy and voluntary groups will take up the other third and councillors will occupy the remaining seats.

Hill hopes the cash will also boost the level of social housing; last year only 19,600 were built at a time when there is massive pressure from young people who need affordable homes.

Ministers also link the issue of affordable housing to social exclusion and health problems.

People living in damp, sub-standard homes have poor health and their children achieve less academically which perpetuates the poverty cycle.

"This extra funding will help improve tenants' quality of life. The organisations will make sure all their homes are in a good state of repair with modern facilities and services," Hill said.

"There is a serious issue about the condition of social housing and we are determined to address it."