Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has expressed deep sadness over the closure of Rural Housing Scotland (RHS), a charity that has served rural communities for over two decades.

RHS announced its closure on Tuesday, 15 October, due to severe funding challenges. The organisation played a crucial role in addressing the urgent housing needs of Scotland's rural areas and will be greatly missed by the sector.

RHS was known for its work in highlighting the imbalance between housing demand and supply in rural areas. Their annual conference provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in rural housing, fostering collaboration and understanding.

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Patrick Colquhoun, Vice Chair (Policy) of SLE, said: "The work of Rural Housing Scotland has made a meaningful difference in supporting rural communities to secure affordable housing.

"Their innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to raising awareness of housing issues have been crucial in highlighting the challenges we face.

"Earlier this year, the Scottish Government published a depopulation action plan and it seems incredibly short sighted that a charity trying to address one of the root causes of depopulation finds itself unable to continue operating.

"The Scottish Government has already declared that we are facing a housing emergency, yet the closure of lifeline services on the front line of tackling this emergency would suggest that things are only getting worse, with a disproportional impact on rural communities. Rural Housing Scotland's closure must be a wakeup call for the Scottish Government."

Members of Scottish Land & Estates are one of the largest suppliers of rural housing stock in Scotland, accounting for homes for more than 13,000 families.