Housing

The Scottish Land Commission is driving a programme of land reform spanning both urban and rural land, to create a Scotland where land is owned and used in ways that are fair, responsible and productive.

First-time buyers and others on low to medium incomes are being encouraged to take advantage of the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme to help buy a home in 2023.

The scheme allows people to buy a home without having to fund its entire cost and is available across Scotland to these people who face particular barriers to the housing market:

Information on the Scottish Government Population Programme published.

The Population Programme is a cross-cutting programme of work which aims to deliver Scotland’s Population Strategy, which articulates a vision for Scotland’s population profile to provide a platform for economic success, prosperity and wellbeing across Scotland’s communities.

Rural Housing Scotland have been awarded funding from 

£20 million referendum funding will support people struggling with their energy bills.

Thousands of vulnerable households will be supported by the continuation of the Scottish Government’s uprated £20 million Fuel Insecurity Fund.

This week sees the start of construction work on a new village in Skye – the first in over 100 years!  

The Kilbeg Village initiative is being taken forward by project partners Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - The National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, The Highland Council and the Communities Housing Trust.

Today saw the publication of research on how local and regional economic development policies can contribute to reducing child poverty in Scotland.

There is still time to take part in the consultation to modernise small landholdings legislation.

Scotland’s farmers, crofters, land-managers, small holders and small landholders are vital to our ambition to make our nation fairer and greener, and small landholders are part of this farming ambition.

Homeowners can now apply for a standalone grant of £7,500 from the Home Energy Scotland Scheme to install heat pumps. Previously, applicants were required to sign up for a loan before they qualified for this funding, but can now access the money directly.

The new approach is designed to offer greater flexibility for those looking to make their homes more climate-friendly.