Rural Housing Initiative

Pauline InnesHousing Supply Division

Scottish Government

Purpose

• To share our ideas for addressing rural housing issues

• Consider ideas and solutions

• Seek your views

Background

We have been listening:• The housing system in rural Scotland operates

differently to that of urban Scotland in a few key areas: – Land ownership and house-building industry structured

differently– Impact of the second home and holiday home market– Higher levels of empty properties.– Employment structure is different - high levels of part-time

working, thus affecting mortgage decisions– Delivering mainstream affordable housing through an RSL or

council is not always possible.

Rural Housing Initiative – policy intention?

• RSL and council build are important, but complementary action could make a big impact.

• Don’t want to displace existing activity but to fill the gaps.

Proposition

• Support for rural landlords and landowners to increase the supply of rented housing (either mid-market or market rent).

• Bringing empty properties back into use for affordable rent or sale.

• Helping individuals into owner occupation through self build (building on rural rent to buy and self-build loan fund).

• Support for community groups who want to create new housing at all stages of development of their proposals

Stakeholders

• Rural Housing Scotland• Highlands & Islands Small Communities Housing Trust• Dumfries & Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust• Highlands & Islands Enterprise• Scottish Land & Estates• Rural & Islands Housing Association Forum• ALACHO• Development Trusts Association Scotland• Community Land Scotland

Timeline

• Recommendations to Ministers by summer 2015.

• Spending Review autumn 2015 – 1 year or 3 years?

• Subject to ministerial agreement, ready to launch in 2016/17.

Any questions?

Group discussion……

• Have we set the background correctly, Is there anything missing?

• Do the solutions proposed feel right? Is there anything missing? Will it address the issues that you see?

• Feasibility funding support? Would it be helpful?• How much demand do you think there will be for the

Initiative at its various elements? • How should we keep interested parties up-to-date

with progress? What’s the best way to communicate with interested parties? How can you help us?