SOUTH Hams Council's affordable housing team has produced a new guide to explain what is meant by 'affordable homes'.

The guide, Local Homes for Local People, seeks to answer, in simple terms, questions that are frequently asked by individuals and town and parish councils.

It states the council's policy clearly: affordable housing is for people earning local incomes, who are unable to afford to rent or buy a home on the open market.

The guide aims to help people understand the four types of affordable homes: social rented housing; the affordable rent model – a new national model that provides rented homes up to 80 per cent of market rents; shared equity/ shared ownership; and discounted market sale, where a 20 to 25 per cent discount for the purchaser must be passed on upon resale.

It also explains the Community Housing Fund, rent to buy and South Hams Intermediate Rent Enterprise schemes, village housing initiatives, local allocations policy and much more.

Cllr Simon Wright, executive member for environmental health and housing said: 'This is a really informative leaflet that shows we are moving away from the single shopping list for affordable homes and have started to broaden it to provide local homes for local people in ways that suit our residents' needs more accurately.

'These homes will come in many different sizes, shapes and costs if we are to meet our local needs. To help accomplish 'Local Homes for Local People' we need to work together as a district to identify suitable areas of land and then turn aspirations into realities. This new housing guide is a great first step.'

The publication is available from South Hams Council's website, or for a large print version call 01803 861234 or email [email protected]">[email protected].