Locals, incomers and second homes—the role of resold public sector dwellings in rural Scotland

Privatization of public rental housing has been a key element of Government housing policy in Britain since 1979, and the longer term consequences are now becoming apparent. In particular the role that the former public rental dwellings plays in the housing market on resale is becoming clearer. This article examines resales in rural Scotland and concludes that the dwellings are not being used as second homes or retirement homes and that most are being bought by locals on moderate incomes. Most incoming buyers, however, are elderly with property to sell and they can outbid local buyers. The dwellings will not be meeting the housing needs of the poorest households, however, as they are no longer available to rent. In the absence of new rented housing to replace dwellings lost to the rented sector through the Right‐to‐Buy, the housing choices of some of those who need to rent may have been seriously diminished.