In order to be eligible for affordable housing in rural communities you need a local connection to the Parish in which you wish to live.
This varies between Local Authorities –East Devon District Council have the following local connection criteria:
Local connection means one or more of the following connections in priority order in respect of parishes or the parish grouping:
i)    persons who have been permanently resident therein for a continuous period of three years out of the five years immediately prior to the Affordable Dwelling being offered to them; or
ii)   being formerly permanently resident therein for a continuous period of five years at some time in the past
iii)  having his or her place of permanent work (normally regarded as 16 hours or more a week and not including seasonal employment) therein for a continuous period of at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to being offered the Affordable Dwelling;
iv) persons who can demonstrate a close family connection to the District in that the person’s mother, father, son, daughter or sibling has been permanently resident therein for a continuous period of five years immediately prior to the Affordable Dwelling being offered to them and where there is independent evidence of a caring dependency relationship.