PEOPLE WHO have faced challenges in accessing housing in rural Scotland in the last three years are being asked to share their experiences via a survey launched this week by Scottish Rural Action.

Respondents who have direct personal experience, or who have supported a friend or family member with a housing issue, and rural employers are all invited to complete the survey before the end of January, at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/housingrural .

The survey has been developed as part of a joint project between Scottish Rural Action and Rural Housing Scotland, looking for real life experiences from across rural Scotland. The testimonials will then be analysed alongside data on rural housing and used to inform policy recommendations and campaigns.

SRA chief executive, Emma Cooper, said: “Data suggests that housing challenges in urban and rural areas look very different. For example, we know that rural areas are particularly affected by properties being bought as second homes, and feedback suggests rural communities are noticing an impact from the rise of Air B&B.

"We also know that social housing is more accessible in towns and cities compared to rural areas, but data can only give us part of the picture. Gathering individual experiences can help illustrate some of the barriers to suitable housing in rural Scotland. Perhaps more importantly, we are inviting people whose housing situations have been resolved to share what helped make this happen. Understanding what works well in rural areas will help us campaign for housing policy that better meets the needs of rural communities.”