What We Do

WHAT WE DO Housing Information and Advice New Affordable Housing Housing Services Housing Needs Surveys & Feasibility Studies Grants Advice Land Community Housing Initiatives Research	Housing on Iona

The Rural Housing Service provides a range of services to rural communities and individuals throughout Scotland. We are happy to visit and talk to any rural community in Scotland about local housing problems. Our service is FREE and there are no strings attached.

"The Rural Housing Service is dedicated to helping small communities solve their housing problems. RHS staff are there to help with funding packages and advice and support. Without them small communities such as Laggan would not own houses to rent at affordable rates to local people living and working in the area."
Sheena Slimon, Highland Councillor for Laggan

"I have long harboured hopes of building affordable homes for families within our community. Previous contact with housing associations and public funding agencies had been painfully frustrating and ultimately unhelpful. I finally made contact with Derek Logie and his 'can do' philosophy and enthusiasm was inspirational. His advice was clear, practical and straightforward. Our community needs some lower cost housing and with Derek's help we feel that we will be able to achieve our goal of providing some much needed affordable homes."
Mike Mackenzie, Easdale Island

Providing Information & Advice on Housing Options & Grants

. We provide advice and information on housing to communities and individuals.

. We can provide support on the full range of rural housing matters: affordable housing options, sheltered housing, homelessness, house conditions, land, empty houses, Rural Home Ownership Grants, housing associations, council housing, private rented housing, overcrowding, repair and improvement grants, care & repair, disabled housing options, government policy, environmental grants and community finance.

Colonsay housing
Two houses built with grant aid

at Kiloran,Isle of Colonsay

. We help individuals and communities to explore different practical solutions to housing problems: building new houses, renovating empty property, extending existing houses or developing a new service.

. We can help make contact with local councils, housing associations and Communities Scotland to raise community concerns on housing.

· We provide a Personal Housing Plan service to people with housing needs to help them look at all the housing options open to them in the area.

· We provide expert independent advice on grants, policies and procedures to help communities and individuals find their way through the funding maze.

· We can support communities and individuals in meetings with housing agencies and can help with grant or housing applications.

· We provide a link to other agencies who can provide support on specialist housing matters.

Example: Colonsay

Helping to get New Affordable Housing Built in Villages

· We can carry out housing needs surveys, feasibility studies and other research to investigate and demonstrate the extent of housing needs in rural communities.

· We can help raise local housing needs with councils, Scottish Homes and housing associations, and find out their plans for housing in the area.

· We can support communities in meetings with agencies and provide independent advice on possible solutions.

Howard Doris Centre, Lochcarron
Amenity housing,

Howard Doris Centre, Lochcarron

· We can help to negotiate land for new housing with landowners.

Examples: Laggan , Durness , Colonsay , Keiss , Glenelg

Helping to Establish New Housing Services

· We can help to raise the need for a new service with the local council and other housing agencies.

· We can bring agencies and community organisations together to discuss the need for a service and how it will be delivered.

· We can help put together community ideas for new services.

Example: Argyll & Bute Care & Repair

Carrying Out Housing Needs Surveys & Feasibility Studies

· We help communities to devise and carryout housing needs surveys, providing an independent and confidential service free of charge. The surveys can provide evidence of local housing needs helping to persuade housing agencies to invest in the village.

Examples: Colonsay , Durness , Keiss

Durness village

Helping Local Families get Land & Grants to Build Their Own Homes

Housing plot at Oxnam	· We can help people to negotiate with landowners to get land on which to build a house. · We help ensure that people get the maximum grant they are entitled to. Example: Colonsay
Finding Funding for Community Housing Initiatives · We can help community housing initiatives to work by finding extra grants and loans from trusts and banks. This extra "community" money can help to secure investment from housing agencies in community ideas. Example: Laggan Research on Rural Housing Problems · We carry out research to highlight rural housing problems and provide a way through which rural communities can highlight their concerns on housing to government. Example: Report: Scotland's Rural Housing: At the Heart of Communities

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