Rural and Islands Housing Funds
The Rural and Islands Housing Fund aims to increase the supply of affordable housing of all tenures in rural Scotland.
The grant fund has two parts:
- a main fund that offers capital support for direct provision of new affordable housing, and refurbishment of existing empty properties
- a small fund that contributes to feasibility studies
Who can apply?
Both funds are open to a wide range of applicants including:
- community organisations
- development trusts
- private landowners
- private developers
- traditional housing providers
Applications from individuals will not be accepted. Only established organisations can apply.
Eligible projects must:
- have a specific site or properties identified
- be in an eligible rural area – levels 4, 5, and 6 of the six-fold urban/rural classification or be located on a Scottish Island
- demonstrate evidence of housing pressure in the location identified
- have the support of the relevant local authority in their role as the strategic housing authority
- be prepared to undertake appropriate community engagement
- be able to provide long term affordable housing
More information, including details of the organisations and areas eligible to apply, is included in the Rural and Islands Housing Fund guidance note MHDGN 2021/02.
Rural housing projects case studies
A list of the projects that have previously received funding is available.
How to apply
Complete the pre-application eligibility check and, if eligible, complete the expression of interest form and send it to rhf@gov.scot. Please make clear in your covering email which fund you wish to register an interest for.
If you are told you can apply you will need to fill out an application form.
Rural and Islands Housing Fund application forms
You will be invited to apply using either the:
Once you have been invited to apply there is no deadline to submit your application. Send it to us at rhf@gov.scot and make it clear which fund you wish to apply for in your covering email.
We will assess applications on an ongoing basis. More information about the assessment process is set out in the fund guidance.
The application paperwork for both funds is reviewed regularly and is subject to change, so please check here regularly to make sure that the guidance and application paperwork you are using is up to date.
If you are considering applying for feasibility funding you should note that the fund can make up to a £20,000 contribution towards feasibility work, and that feasibility funding will be prioritised for projects that have more limited opportunity to access feasibility support from alternative sources.
Contact:
Email: rhf@gov.scot
Telephone: 0300 244 4000