Twenty-two jobs are being axed by a company which manages thousands of council houses in the Black Country.

The number of staff being made redundant by Sandwell Homes is more than three times what the company had originally proposed.

The redundancy threat was recently unveiled when plans were announced to shut four neighbourhood offices.

Bosses believe the move would save £2.5million and had been brought about by more tenants paying over the phone and on-line.

The company has also suffered from a drop in income after the number of houses it runs were sold off under the right to buy scheme.

Sandwell Homes employs 1,350 people and manages 29,000 houses for Sandwell Council.

The number of council homes has fallen from 35,400 since 2004 under the right to buy scheme.

Paul Field, finance director for Sandwell Homes, said: “It has been necessary to review staffing levels due to the introduction of efficiency improvements in the way Sandwell Homes operates, including some reduction in income.

“This includes proposals for closing four offices, the introduction of a new IT system and mobile working.”

He added that it was hoped the jobs would be lost through voluntary redundancies.