How to apply

There are 3 steps to apply:

1. answer the pre-application questions
2. send an Expression of Interest form
3. send a formal application

You will find out if you’re eligible to send a formal application after completing step 2.

Answer the pre-application questions

You can find the pre-application questions on gov.scot. You must answer these questions before you apply for the fund.

If you answer 'no' to any of these questions, you should not apply to the Rural Housing Fund. Answering 'no' means your application will not be successful.

If you answer 'yes' to all questions, you can move on to the next step. This is where you submit an Expression of Interest. 

Fill in an Expression of Interest form

Download and complete the Expression of Interest form on gov.scot. Only fill in this form if you answered 'yes' to all the pre-application questions.

Email the completed Expression of Interest form to rhf@gov.scot. Please state in your email that you are applying for the Rural and Islands Housing Fund.

You'll get a reply within 15 working days. It'll tell you if you can apply for the fund. If you're eligible, the reply will give feedback to help you with your application.

Send your application

If you can apply, you need to complete the correct funding application form:

• download the main fund application form from gov.scot
• download the feasibility fund application form from gov.scot

There’s a checklist at the end of each application form to help you. Send the completed form to rhf@gov.scot.

Apply for the feasibility fund

You can apply for up to £20,000 from the feasibility fund. This part of the fund is for planning costs in the early stages of your project. We call this planning ‘feasibility work’, and some examples are:

• an architect's design drawings
• a quantity surveyor’s cost estimate
• a structural engineer’s report
• work to understand the views of the local community

You must finish the feasibility work within 12 months of getting the grant.

You should find out if you're going to get funding within 6 weeks.

Apply for the main fund

You can apply for money from the main part of the Rural and Islands Housing Fund for costs you’ll pay once. For example, you can get funding for building or renovation work that you do. We call these ‘capital costs’.

If you build homes for rent using this fund, you must always rent them at an affordable rate.

You should find out if you're going to get funding within 12 weeks. 

You can find out more about how to apply in the Rural and Islands Housing Fund: Guidance on gov.scot.