A REFUGEE family fleeing war-torn Syria could be resettled in Maldon.

Maldon District Council is currently exploring offering accommodation to a family from one the refugee camps outside Syria.

In September 2015 the Government announced the UK would take in 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.

Last year, the council pledged to support the refugees but said it could not re-home them in Maldon as there was no housing available and does not have its own housing stock.

However, after being contacted by a church group, meetings were held with council leader Miriam Lewis.

A report which will go before the council today reveals work is underway to rehome one family in the district.

In the report, chief executive Fiona Marshall, said there was “financial risk” to the council due to varying benefit entitlements.

The council believes this could be anything up to £1,000 a month.

Ms Marshall’s report said: “Whilst it may be possible to support the SVPRS through the accommodation offer, there are risks to the council: short term, in that the council could be asked to fund a shortfall in housing benefit of up to £1,000 per month and a longer term risk of having a statutory duty to house the family, which could be very challenging, particularly if the family is large.”

It added: “Whilst we currently have a landlord that is willing to work with us, for future schemes there is also the practical problem of identifying other landlords of a suitable property who would be able to guarantee a property being available and willing to keep it vacant pending the process during which a family is identified.”

Councillors will be asked their views on rehoming refugees in the district at a meeting of the full council tonight.