New tenants sought for five-bedroom home in Fair Isle as North Yorkshire couple moves in
12-acre croft also available as family set to leave island
A NEW home has become available on Fair Isle – with a family of four from North Yorkshire also recently moving to the island.
Earlier this year the island’s owners the National Trust for Scotland advertised the rare availability of a five-bedroom house and croft on Fair Isle, which is Shetland’s most southernmost island.
Secondary school teacher Katy Phenix, 33, and 35-year old electrician Josh Moore have taken on the croft, despite never having visited Fair Isle.
The pair said they were immediately intrigued by posts about the house on Fair Isle, and decided to move their two children Teddy, 11, and Hetty, 6, for a change of pace.
Just as that home and croft moves off the market, the National Trust for Scotland said another family now had the chance to follow in Katy and Josh’s footsteps.
Another five-bedroom home, 12-acre croft and associated shed buildings have become available in Fair Isle this month.
Fair Isle Development Company chair Marie Bruhat and Fair Isle committee chair Eileen Thomson, said outgoing tenants Hollie, Deryk and their family had been “wonderful members” of the community for more than 25 years.
“While they have big shoes to fill, we hope the new tenants have just as positive an impact on the isle, and that they enjoy making Burkle and Fair Isle their new home,” they said.
The application is open to all, but the trust is encouraging people with direct experience in crofting, trade skills such as plumbing, joinery, or maritime skills, or those with craft skills looking to develop their business on the island or contribute to preserving the Fair Isle knitting tradition to apply.
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New Fair Isle resident Katy Phenix and her family arrived in the island in July after being selected through an application process by a panel made up from the National Trust for Scotland and the Fair Isle community.
She said: “We had been feeling for a while like we were stuck in the rat race with our jobs and tied to a big mortgage, and we wanted a better life for our kids and more quality time with them.
“We saw this opportunity and although it’s a very big change, it felt like what we were looking for, so we took a leap of faith.”
Josh’s expertise as an electrician has already been in demand supporting battery installation as part of Fair grid resilience project, and various other jobs across the island.
Katy has taken a post working in early years at the nursery, and the children have started at the local school. She added: “I think that to live here, you have to be open to all opportunities and be really flexible.
“It’s very different to move from a guaranteed income to a more freelance style of working, but there is so much opportunity for work to come in, and Josh has almost been too busy already.
“We’re adapting to a slower pace and enjoying the freedom.”
Bruhat and Thomson said they were already looking forward to welcoming some new people to Fair Isle. “It’s a fantastic place to raise a family,” they said.
“We are always keen to welcome practical, adaptable and sociable people. There are many work opportunities here especially for those with trades experience.
“Our lifeline ferry and retained firefighting crew always need able recruits, and there is the chance to work crafting our world-famous Fair Isle knitwear.”
The National Trust for Scotland’s operations manager for Fair Isle, Angus Murray, said it was great that a new family would have the chance to move to the island.
“We’re inviting applications from hard-working and enthusiastic people who will bring skill, creativity, and care to this special place,” he said.
Fair Isle has a current population of around 60 people, with a primary school and nursery, local shop, post office and an active community hall that hosts regular events.
It can be accessed by flights from Tingwall Airport or by boat, with the ferry usually running to Grutness in Shetland’s South Mainland.
A new Fair Isle ferry is soon expected to be delivered to Shetland Islands Council, replacing the ageing Good Shepherd.
Katy said: “I would encourage anyone with an open mind and the willingness to join a really social and supportive community to apply.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful and we don’t feel at all isolated.
“The shop is fantastic, the internet is better than where we lived in North Yorkshire, and we have this beautiful landscape on our doorstep.
“We’ve done so many nature walks with the kids since we arrived and seen puffins and wildlife that we just didn’t get to experience before.
“We’re so happy to be here and looking forward to everything that comes next.”
To apply for the residential lease of the house and the croft tenancy on Fair Isle, please email fihousingatnts@nts.org.uk for an application pack.
You will be asked to provide information on how you would support yourself in the community and make best use of this opportunity. This would include any experience you have in crofting or agriculture.
All applicants will be asked to complete and submit by Sunday 8 November 2026.
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