Swansea's Assembly members are split over whether 14,000 council houses in the county should be taken out of council control.
Of six AMs in the region, Plaid's Dai Lloyd and Labour's Val Lloyd are against the proposal. Swansea West AM Andrew Davies did not reply to a question from the Post, but the region's other AMs have all backed the plan.
Council tenants are expected to be given a chance to vote on the future of their homes this year.It could see Swansea Council hand over 14,000 council houses to a non- profit making mutual company called Tawe Housing.
The mutual, which would include council tenants as board members, would be able to raise £190 million more than the council for repairs and improvements.
However, many tenants fear the move would lead to increased rents and a lack of social housing for future generations.
Dr Lloyd said it was the responsibility of government to provide adequate social housing."I am against stock transfer. I believe housing should remain in public ownership," he said.
"Good housing equals good health, and conversely bad housing equals bad health.
"I believe housing is the proper pursuit of government and democratic control, and not subject to the whims of the market."
Councils across Wales have been told they need to improve the quality of social housing to meet Assembly standards.
The total cost of meeting the standard in Swansea is around £370 million but the council would be able to raise only £176 million.
AM Peter Black, who is also a member of Swansea Council's ruling group, said he fully supported the move to transfer homes.
He said: "If we are going to replace defective windows and doors, install central heating in all properties, make houses waterproof and install modern bathrooms and kitchens, the only option is stock transfer.
"Tenants in Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Monmouth have already voted for this option for precisely this reason. Swansea tenants should not miss out."
Gower AM Edwina Hart is Assembly Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration. She will be directly involved with the process after tenants have voted and so could not comment specifically.
However, she said: "The Assembly Government has a clear policy objective that landlords should provide tenants with homes to a standard that is appropriate for the 21st Century.
"We require all councils and housing associations to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012."
Swansea's Labour AM Val Lloyd said she would prefer an option that would allow the council to raise the money itself.
She said: "I am not a supporter of stock transfer and am in favour of the fourth option, which the Assembly Government and the trades unions also back."
South Wales West Conservative AM Alun Cairns said standards needed to be raised. He added: "Stock transfer can hold the key to empowering local communities, investing in local small businesses and increasing quality of life in low-income housing."
