Who can apply?

Only organisations can apply for the Rural and Islands Housing Fund. Your organisation must have plans to build affordable homes in rural areas. Individuals cannot apply.

You can apply if you're a:

• community organisation
• local council or housing association
• development trust
• private landowner planning affordable housing
• private developer (for example, a house builder)

To get funding you must:

• have a building site or buildings to renovate in a rural area of Scotland 
• show that there's a need for affordable housing in the area
• have council support for the homes
• show how you plan to work with the community
• be able to provide long-term affordable homes to rent or sell

You can learn more about applying in the Rural and Islands Housing Fund: Guidance on gov.scot.

Rural area housing

The homes you’re planning must be in a rural area.

Rural areas that qualify in Scotland are:

• remote small towns – 3,000-9,999 people with a 30 minute drive to a place with 10,000 people or more
• accessible rural areas – 3,000 or less people with a 30 minute drive to a place with 10,000 people or more
• remote rural areas – 3,000 or less people with a drive of more than 30 minutes to a place with 10,000 people or more

There's more information in the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply if you've already had funding from your project from:

• the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP)
• the Scottish Government to buy land