Are your OK for SBLF, HSCHT, SLF or RIHF?
There are plenty of places to find grants to help build new, or improve, if you know your way around the acronym alphabet... and don’t forget to claim back all your VAT
Self-building in Scotland has had a fantastic boost this autumn thanks to a new £4 million loan fund unveiled by government. People across the entire country who want to build their own homes will be able to apply to the Self-Build Loan Fund announced by the Scottish Government at the start of September. Loans are available for eligible urban or rural self-builders who are unable to access standard bank lending to support build completion, allowing access to a traditional mortgage which is used to repay loan. The Highland Self Build Loan Fund pilot project is now finished and applicants will be using the new self-build loan fund. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart announced that the £4 million fund is now open for applications. ‘I want to see people across Scotland apply and make full use of this fund. We know that people are interested in building their own homes and in some cases, it is the best way for families to tailor their homes to their needs,’ he said. ‘We also know that it can be tough to secure funding and get the right advice, which is why we set up the self-build loan fund to help those who need to access finance. ‘This nationwide boost for self-building was announced following a successful pilot in the Highlands, we decided to roll the fund out to people across the country.’ parts Self-build of rural is Scotland a traditional and the form islands of housing and at supply times, the in many only form of housing supply, but it has become increasingly difficult to obtain self-build mortgages. The £4 million fund was set up following a review of the pilot in the Highlands. The Highland Small Communities Housing Trust ran the successful pilot scheme which led to the decision for the fund to go nation-wide; it will continue to administer the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. Ronnie MacRae, the trust’s chief executive said: ‘HSCHT is delighted to have been confirmed as agents for the Self-Build Loan Fund and following the success of the Highland pilot we are sure this will be a key fund for Scotland. ‘The SBLF sits alongside the many other positive Scottish Government initiatives such as the Rural and Islands Housing Funds, Scottish Land Fund.’ ‘Whilst not yet back to where it was, self and custombuild is again a growing market and we’re excited to be working with Scottish Government and a range of partners to ensure that this remains the case and the sector goes from strength to strength as a housing option.’