Investigation of Occupancy Controls in Rural Housing

DescriptionThe aim of this research was to investigate policies being implemented in Scotland and other countries (including elsewhere in the UK) to resolve rural housing shortages, with a specific focus on occupancy conditions, and make recommendations on whether and how policy lessons from other countries may be suitable for Scotland.
ISBN978 07559 73736
Official Print Publication DateJanuary 2009
Website Publication DateJanuary 09, 2009

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Madhu Satsangi and Joe Crawford, Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling
ISBN 978 0 7559 7373 6 (Web only publication)
This document is also available in pdf format (1.1mb)

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 INTRODUCTION
Aims and objectives
Research approach
Stage 1 Research design
Stage 2 Initial review of national evidence
Stage 3 Review of evidence from comparator countries
Stage 4 Synthesis of evidence
Structure of report

2 HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN RURAL SCOTLAND
Introduction
Planning and occupancy restrictions
Taxation policy
Market context
Conclusion

3 COMPARATIVE EVIDENCE
Introduction
Overview of rural housing problems and solutions
Approaches to rural planning and housing
Main policy initiatives
Occupancy controls
Conclusion

4 CONCLUSIONS
Introduction
Costs and benefits of occupancy controls
Restricting purchasers of new market housing development
Preventing permanent residences becoming second/holiday homes

APPENDIX ONE: OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL REVIEWS

APPENDIX TWO: EXPERT REVIEWS OF COMPARATOR COUNTRIES' EXPERIENCES
Occupancy restrictions on rural housing: Review of experience in England, Wales and Jersey
Occupancy conditions in rural housing: Republic of Ireland
Rural Housing in Norway
Occupancy conditions in rural housing in Sweden

List of Tables
Table 1.1: Assessing the effects of policies
Table 2.1: Second homes and second home discounts in rural Scotland, 2006-07
Table 3.1: Overview of rural housing problems and solutions
Table 4.1: Summary of policy options

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge support and advice given by the Scottish Government and Rural Housing Service during the research. We also acknowledge the contribution of national experts in preparing the reviews - Gard Folkesdotter (Sweden), Menelaos Gkartzios and Declan Redmond (Eire) and Steinar Sorheim (Norway) - and thank respondents on occupancy control experience in Scottish and English national parks and in Jersey.

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.

This report is available on the Scottish Government Social Research website only
www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch.

Page updated: Thursday, January 08, 2009