Does the AHPL (Assisted House Purchase Loan I think) still exist?
Interest free (although there are tax implications depending on size of loan) loan from company when relocating?
This may be an option for some people to help with deposits. I know it doesn't address the issue of neg equity, but every little helps.
Perhaps NATS could extend the rental window - normally a year iirc - so that when the market hopefully rises again people won't be hit as hard. Obviously the downside is that the Scottish Market will have risen too.
Anotherthing
I wasn't suggesting that any commute away from family is easy - just that some are more manageable than others.