Housing association awarded £225,000 for Open Market Shared Equity

Orkney Housing Association Limited (OHAL) has been re-appointed as agent for the Scottish Government’s Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in Orkney and has been allocated £225,000 of the total funding of £2.085m available in the Highlands & Island for 2013/14.

The scheme helps eligible applicants to buy a home, with the Scottish Government funding between 10 per cent and 40 per cent.

The scheme is open to help all first-time buyers, with priority access provided to people who rent from either the OIC or the OHAL, disabled people, current and former members of the armed forces and their families.

Sally Inkster, OHAL chief executive, said “We have already assisted 13 Orkney households on limited incomes to buy homes that are for sale on the open market and we welcome this funding which should enable us to assist a further five or six applicants.  Although relatively small numbers, this is an important part of the range of housing options that we can look at when people come to us for assistance with their housing.”