Housing Minister Nelson Bascome has hinted that the new Bermuda Housing Corporation apartments in Warwick will be sold off to tenants who put down a deposit.

Mr. Bascome referred questions about the two bedroom units on South Shore opposite Warwick Shell gas station to BHC, which did not respond to calls for information on Wednesday.

But when asked about the rumour that tenants will be able to rent then buy the units, which are almost completed, Mr. Bascome said: "Well, that may not be a rumour.

"I don't want to take away from what the (BHC) board is going to do, but I can say that the board has in place a particular scheme that will benefit those persons who have been good tenants with the Bermuda Housing Corporation."

When asked whether there has been any money collected from prospective tenants, he said: "No, there has been no money collected.

"I don't want to usurp what they are going to do. I can say that it is going to be something that is very pleasing to the Bermuda public, and we are very happy that this is another one of our projects that have come to an end."

Mr. Bascome said they will be ready for occupancy within the next few months.

Mystery has surrounded what BHC would do with the units since May, when BHC tenant Winnae Wales-Lugo said she was told by suspended BHC general manager Raymonde Dill that they would only let the apartments to those who could put down a $20,000 deposit because the intention was to sell it to them.

According to Ms Wales-Lugo, Mr. Dill said they would not be sold until after the next election.

She told The Royal Gazette in May: "I was surprised how outright he (Mr. Dill) was about certain things.

"He said he wants to sell the property to relieve himself of the responsibility of maintaining them, but the Minister (Mr. Bascome) wants to rent them because this is an election year.

"He went on to say the Minister may allow him to sell next year, though. He said if he does have to rent them, he'd rent only to those who have a $20,000 down payment to buy them if, or when, they go on the market."

Ms Wales-Lugo said she later had a conversation with Mr. Bascome, who said they would be rented.

Mr. Dill and Finance Officer Robert Clifford were suspended earlier this year as Auditor General Larry Dennis carried out an investigation into allegations of corruption, mismanagement and over-payments to some contractors.

Ms Wales-Lugo said a few days after speaking to Mr. Bascome and the new BHC management team was installed, senior rentals officer Judy Thamotheram told her the property would definitely be sold.

"She said the property would be rented in the meantime, but only to those who have a $20,000 down payment to buy them," said Ms Wales-Lugo.