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Approximately 65% of homes in �鶹��Ѱ� and Bute are owner occupied.  This is slightly higher than the average for Scotland.

House prices vary according to the property and the area in which it is located but you can get a rough guide by looking at For Sale displays in local papers or on Solicitors/Property Centre websites.

Buying a house

It is recommended that all potential home-buyers consult a solicitor as soon as possible, and certainly before submitting any offer, as this is usually binding. 

Helpful guidance on the property buying process, including mortgages, is available on the   

Shared Ownership Housing

Several housing associations in �鶹��Ѱ� and Bute have Shared Ownership schemes. Shared ownership means part owning/part renting a house or flat, where the occupier purchases a share (25%, 50% or 75%) in the ownership of the property and pays a reduced occupancy charge (rent).

Where available, this may be an option for people who aren’t in a position to buy a property on the mainstream housing market, but want to get on to the “property ladder”.

Please note that if you can afford to buy a property on the mainstream property market, you will not be eligible for Shared Ownership.

Most shared ownership schemes are run by housing associations, though occasionally private builders may offer this on new build developments and will normally advertise this in the local press.

After the first year, under shared ownership you would have the option to purchase further shares (although you don't have to) until eventually you own the whole home outright.

LIFT – Low cost Initiative for First Time buyers

The Scottish Government’s LIFT scheme gives help to disabled people and to first time-buyers people who would like to buy their home, but cannot afford to pay the full price for a property.

Disabled applicants to the scheme do not have to be a first time buyer to qualify, but do need to show that their current property no longer meets their needs.

There are two LIFT schemes:

The Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme, which is to help people buy a home on the open market – within certain price thresholds

The New Supply Shared Equity scheme (NSSE), which helps people buy a new-build home from a council or housing association.

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Local Authority and Housing Association Tenants you can also .

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Building a house

Potential sites will be advertised in local newspapers, solicitors/property centres and estate agents websites and offices. Local knowledge can also be very useful in finding a site for sale.

Sites vary considerably – some may have outline planning consent, some may already be services with water, electricity or gas while other sites may have no planning consent or services. It’s generally not a good idea to purchase until at least outline planning consent for housing has been obtained.

As with all major property transactions, you should get legal advice from a solicitor at an early stage.

You should inspect planning permission for your potential site as there may be restrictions the type of size of house that you can build. There may be restrictions which affect the cost of the build – for example, a traditional style of building may be required.

Any existing planning permission will be available from the selling agent or from the Area Planning Office  

For advice on planning regulations and procedures please contact your area planning office or visit the planning pages on this website.

Self-Build Register 

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (section 16E) requires all local Planning Authorities to prepare and maintain a list of anyone interested in acquiring land for self-build across their authority area.   

Self-build housing is where an individual (whether acting alone or with other individuals) commissions or is personally involved in the design and construction of a dwelling that is intended to be the individual’s main residence once it is built. 

If you are interested in building your own home, you can complete our expression of interest form. Registering your interest in self-build will help us to understand more about the demand for self-build plots across �鶹��Ѱ� and Bute and to explore ways in which it might be possible for those interested in self-build and plots to be brought together. This in turn will support plan making and decision taking about self-build housing. Please note registration does not however guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified, or become available.  

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) are the Planning Authority for National Park areas. Some settlements within Cowal and Helensburgh & Lomond fall within the LLTNP jurisdiction. If you are looking to self-build within the LLTNP area you need to register your interest with them directly. For further details of LLTNP areas, please refer to the information on their website: 

By completing the self-build expression of interest application form, you are confirming that you are you happy to give the Council permission to keep your details on record for the purpose of their self-build list and for your name to be published online together with the area you are interested in self-building.  No other personal or contact details will be published. We will not pass your information onto anyone outside the Council without your further written consent.  The register will be reviewed every year. Your details will remain on the register for one year unless you ask us to remove before then.  
 
All of your responses will be handled in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Council's privacy notice/statement. Full details are available here –  

Self-build Register - Privacy �鶹��Ѱ�Statement | �鶹��Ѱ� and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) 

To register your interest in Self-Build please complete the  

�鶹��Ѱ� and Bute Self-Build Register – Expressions of Interest