9. (1) A housing authority shall, before making dwellings available for the purpose of sale to eligible applicants under an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement, or providing financial assistance under section 8, notify the public in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) Notification under this section shall be in such manner and form as the Minister may prescribe.

(3) Where a housing authority notifies the public under this section that it intends to make dwellings available for the purpose of sale to eligible applicants under an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement or to provide financial assistance under section 8 an applicant may apply to the housing authority to purchase a dwelling under the arrangement or to receive such assistance.

(4) An application referred to in subsection (3) shall be in such manner and form as the Minister may prescribe.

(5) Where a person is—

(a) married,

(b) in a civil partnership, or

(c) in an intimate and committed relationship with a partner with whom he or she intends to reside in the affordable dwelling,

he or she may not apply to a housing authority under this section to purchase an affordable dwelling under an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement on his own or her own but shall make any such application together with his or her spouse, civil partner or partner, as the case may be.

(6) Regulations under subsection (4) may in particular provide for—

(a) the time periods during which an application may be made,

(b) the information and any documents required to accompany an application.