Rural Housing Week highlights
need for stronger local partnerships
20 July 2026
Housing providers, landowners, local authorities and parish councils need to work more closely with rural housing enablers to deliver the affordable homes that communities desperately need.
That was the call made by ACRE during this year’s Rural Housing Week, which took place between Monday 6 and Friday 10 July.
Each year, the awareness-raising week aims to highlight the struggles that many people face when looking to build a life in the places they were born.
Unaffordable house prices, strict planning laws and a sharp rise in second-home purchases has made the rural property ladder unattainable for many in hamlets, villages and small market towns.
But, with the help of the rural housing enabler programme, progress is being made in getting people the home they have always dreamed of.
Patrick Mahon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at ACRE, said: “Too many people are being priced out of the places they call home, with consequences not only for individuals and families, but for the long-term sustainability of villages, local services and rural economies.
“The government-funded rural housing enabler programme shows what can be achieved when communities have access to trusted, independent support.
“RHEs understand local concerns, help identify the needs of specific communities and bring the right partners together to explore small-scale affordable housing, tailored to each community.
“Rural affordable housing is not about large-scale development. It is about meeting local need, supporting sustainable communities and making sure people who live, work or have family ties in rural areas have a fair chance of staying there.
“Rural housing enablers are there to help make those conversations possible and we want to see more housing providers, landowners, local authorities and parish councils engaging with them to unlock suitable sites, build trust with communities and deliver the affordable homes that rural areas need.”
Real-life examples that showcase the power and potential of the rural housing enabler programme can be seen on the ACRE website:
