Following the publication of the Rural White Paper in November 2000 there has been a plethora of rural housing policy statements and innovative policy initiatives in the UK. This book provides a balanced overview of rural housing policy. The authors examine the nature of Rural Housing Policy, with an emphasis on the marginalization of rural housing in 'housing policy and practice' debates, and even countryside debates and the role of focusing policy on building and maintaining sustainable rural communities. A definition of 'rural' in relation to housing debates and a historic survey of policy and events set the background for examining the current policy context and framework. The idyll of the rural home (including holiday and second homes) as well as the recent foot and mouth crisis and environmental issues are examined, as is the framework within policy is formulated at both national and local levels and financial and funding frameworks including the New Labour 'third way' rural housing policy.