Rural Housing Service - Case Study: Fair Isle

Case Study: Fair Isle Housing Partnership - Page 2 previous page

Fair Isle Housing Initiative
Rents
Allocations
Contacts

Fair Isle Housing Initiative
The initiative has the following objectives:

· To bring existing property back into use for rent to local people

· To improve the quality of housing in an area where there is a high proportion of Below Tolerable Standard housing

· To increase access to affordable rented housing in an area where there is increasing housing pressure due to the growing population

· To help sustain the community and contribute to the economy of the island

· To provide training opportunities and work skills for young islanders

The first project was the renovation of a house with workshop facilities at Vaasetter, enabling a young family to remain in their community.

Scottish Homes contributed a grant of £20,000 through their Rural Empty Properties Grant towards the rehabilitation of the property. Shetland Islands Council contributed £17,542 through repair and improvement grants. A further £14,000 came from the Scottish Executive Rural Challenge Fund. The National Trust for Scotland also contributed £41,543 as the property owners.

Shetland Islands Council and the Trust have also supported two major improvements at Quoy and Houll.

Crofts on Fair Isle
(photo: David Wheeler at www.fairisle.org.uk )

The next stage of the initiative will be the renovation of former Lighthouse Keepers accommodation on the island. Three flats will be provided for rent. The Housing Partnership recognises the needs of tenants for adequate work space, so provision has been made at the Lighthouse for space, although the funding to provide a tea room and studio facilities, for example, is not within the remit of the partnerhip. The inclusion of a workspace area within housing reflects the home base of much of the economic activity on the island.

The programme of improvements being undertaken ranges from complete renovation to the installation of new heating and windows. With the partnership and programme of improvements well into the third year, substantial improvements have been made to the Isle's housing stock. However although the NTS have already committed, and it is hoped the Shetland Islands Council will also do so, for years 4 and 5, amounts are not as large. The partnership is working to draw in private funding, which was an aim at the outset. It is hoped that at the end of the five-year programme all of the NTS properties on Fair Isle will have been improved, and all croft land have homes.

Rents
Currently the low house rental (£250 per annum) is due to be reviewed. All partners are aware that a rents policy should reflect the needs of Fair Isle, rather than the national average: with low incomes and the commitment of the Trust to enable islanders to use their resources to develop businesses on the island, rents should remain well below the national average.

Allocation
The National Trust maintain a waiting list for their properties and work closely with Shetlands Islands Council in the maintenance of the list and the allocation of housing. The allocation system is a points system which gives priority to islanders, young islanders wishing to return, and others with Fair Isle connections.

Contacts

Scottish Homes: Avril Noack, noacka@scot-homes.gov.uk
National Trust for Scotland: Angus Jack, ajack@nts.org.uk
Shetland Islands Council, Housing Department: Fiona Robertson, Tel: 01595 744360
Fair Isle Housing Forum: Stewart Wilson, Tel: 01595 760273

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