RIVER Clyde Homes are set to outsource another new contract to refurbish more empty properties for Ukrainian refugees - only weeks after their own workforce hit out at the practice.

Inverclyde's largest social housing landlord came under fire last month for increasingly bypassing their in-house arm Home Fix and using other firms instead.

It comes after the Tele recently reported staff claims that the housing association's repair backlog has doubled.

Housing bosses have already been successful in two bids with the Scottish Government to fix 44 local houses lying empty for families who have fled war-torn Ukraine for a period of up to three years.

Now they are awaiting the outcome of another which would bring the total of 'void' properties upgraded for refugees to 74.

But one source said: "It is unbelievable that River Clyde Homes are at it again. They have put the contract out to tender. We are worried about our jobs and here they go outsourcing more work to an external contractor.

"We have people capable to doing this work. We have so many concerns about the way Home Fix is run and we are obviously concerned about our own jobs. We have skilled tradespeople, but we are also worried our apprentices won't get the the skills they need to pass their training, but no one is listening to us."

River Clyde Homes recently posted on the Public Contracts Scotland website looking for a contractor to refurbish 30 homes.

The development is dependent on a decision by the Scottish Government on funding, which is expected imminently.

River Clyde Homes told the Tele they recently had two successful bids to the government's longer-term resettlement fund, to complete 44 empty homes in Inverclyde to rehouse displaced Ukrainians for a period of up to three years.

A spokesman said: "These homes require extensive investment and the funding ensures that each of the properties will be brought back to a lettable standard.

"Due to the exceptional nature of this work, we have procured an external contractor to allow HFS to maintain its core services to River Clyde Homes customers without disruption.

"This funding from the Scottish Government gives us the opportunity to work with Inverclyde Council to provide a more stable living environment to many of those displaced by the tragic war."