Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is permissible for a property bought under the affordable housing scheme to be rented to a third party when the owners circumstances have changed, can the scheme be varied by individual local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16411/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Affordable housing schemes were introduced to facilitate home ownership for first time buyers. To this end, while the terms and conditions of the various affordable housing schemes do not prohibit an affordable home owner from renting out a spare room in his/her home, a local authority may attach conditions to the contract with the purchaser pertaining to the sub-letting of the unit and its use by the purchaser as his/her normal place of residence. A breach of contract conditions would be a matter for a local authority to pursue as appropriate given the particular circumstances involved. The administration of the various affordable housing schemes is a matter entirely for local authorities.

The Government’s 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, as part of the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes will be made in the context of this review and I expect to make announcements in this regard in the coming months.