BY NUALA MCALOON
Enniskillen has been successful in an application to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to participate in the Living Over The Shop (LOTS) Initiative.
It offers grant assistance up to a maximum of £30,000 towards eligible costs to transform vacant or under-used space within the town centre area into private rented residential accommodation.
Property holders with an interest in this Initiative attended a briefing in the Townhall on Thursday afternoon last where details of the initiative and the potential financial package were outlined.
Among those to speak at the information session were John O'Kane, chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Brendan Hegarty, the Council's Director of Finance and IT, and David Brown and Andy McGarry, from the Housing Executive.
Mr Brown reported that he had received 11 applications for the period starting in January, of which five were successful. He said Fermanagh District Council had made a very good case for Enniskillen to be included.
The aim of the Initiative, the gathering was told, was to encourage the regeneration of town centres by bringing private rented housing back to Enniskillen. The scheme will operate for the period from the 1st January this year to the 31st December, 2011.
As part of the Initiative, it was outlined, the Housing Executive can give landlords grant aid to convert upper floors of shop or office buildings into flats, convert commercial properties into flats or houses or to renovate existing flats or houses. Grant aid is also available to owner occupiers.
Only properties within the designated town centre living initiative area boundaries are eligible for grant aid.
Landlords can be given a grant of up to 75 per cent of the cost of eligible expenses up to a maximum of £25,000 where one flat or house is created, or £30,000 where there is more than one flat. Owner occupiers can receive up to £25,000 but will be subject to a means test of resources.
Among the work which can be grant aided are new and improved kitchens, new and improved bathrooms, re-wiring and re-plumbing, fire alarm system (where there is more than one flat), and repairs to, or replacement of, roofs, doors, chimneys and windows.
Among the other potential financial benefits are capital allowances. Tax relief may be available on capital expenditure for renovation or conversion of vacant or under-used space to provide flats for rental. Reduced rate VAT may also be applicable.
Mr McGarry, in his delivery, outlined the step by step guide involved in the grants' process. Applicants first complete a preliminary enquiry form and send it to the NIHE office in Enniskillen. An inspection of one's property then takes place prior to an issue of the schedule of grant aided works. The applicant will then be required to provide the Housing Executive with necessary documentation, such as planning and building control approval.
The contribution will be assessed, and the applicant will receive formal grant approval to start the work issued, but must then inform the Housing Executive of the start of work before requesting payment for fully or partially completed work. Later, there will follow an inspection of work for stage or final payment before payment of money.
Brendan Hegarty said he hoped there would be an uptake and he assured the meeting that the Council was fully committed to helping people get ready.
Property owner, Joe Kelly who owns three premises in Enniskillen's town centre, said he welcomed the initiative as a great opportunity.
"For years, the town centre was lying derelict never to see people living in houses. There was a mass exodus of people moving out to the country, so to see a come back is a great thing."
