We have established a rural housing partnership with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) - combining forces to maximise the benefits for our members working in rural housing management and delivery.

The partnership supports an increased focus on rural housing issues in the responses of both organisations to key government consultations.

We are exploring how together we can support rural authorities and partners to address significant issues around rural housing from management issues, the impacts of welfare reform and the development of new affordable rural housing.

Both organisations have a reach across the UK and we will be building on the good examples across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to identify transferable good practice.

CIH and RSN also have a shared focus on health and care and the connections with housing, and we will be looking at how we can share practice and important policy messages for this in the future too.

We welcome comments and ideas from our members on the issues that you would like to see as a focus for this partnership.