Woman must vacate affordable home

SEVEN years is long enough to complete the purchase of a house under the affordable homes scheme, a Judge told Tuam District Court when he ordered a woman to vacate her Tuam home on foot of an application made by Galway Co Council. Judge Geoffrey Browne was told the woman continually found excuses for not complying with the terms of the legal agreement she entered in to when she took possession of the home. Angela Casey solr (for Galway Co Council) told the Court that Fiona Forde took possession of her home at 42 The Potteries, Weir Road in 2005. She was required to enter into a contract to buy out the house. She was paying rent of €718 per month up until she received notice to quit earlier this year.[private] Ms Casey outlined numerous attempts by the council to engage with Ms Forde but she continually avoided signing the contract to buy. All the closing documents had been sent to her but they were not completed. There were issues over a snag list. Judge Browne asked if the snag list was a delaying tactic or an effort to get the council to carry out works on the house. The solicitor felt it was a delaying tactic. Another issue was the failure of Ms Forde to insure the home, a stipulation in her agreement with the council. A man who identified himself as Ms Forde's partner told the Court that the insurance was now in place. Ms Forde was not in Court and there was a question over whether she still resided in the house. Her partner assured the Court she did. The Co Council insisted that they had made every effort to get Fiona Forde to comply and she had continually ignored them. This had been going on since 2005 and they now wanted possession of the property. Granting the order to evict Ms Forde, Judge Browne said she kept coming up with excuses to avoid her commitment. She claimed X, Y and Z had to be done and the rate- and taxpayers were having to fund her house. A short stay was put on the order. [/private]