Living Over The Shop (LOTS)

What is a Living Over The Shops (LOTS) Grant?

LOTS is a relatively new scheme which is intended to encourage people to live in properties over shops in certain areas of town centre regeneration. This grant scheme covers any work carried out in order to make properties over shops fit to live in and, in the case of most flats, fit for the number of people who live there.

These grants may only be approved in exceptional circumstances. Grant applications already in our system which have not been approved are, in general, unlikely to be approved unless sufficient funds become available.

We do not want to raise expectations about the availability of grants or have people incur costs unnecessarily and therefore it is not appropriate to continue to accept any new preliminary enquiries. We will be writing to those who have already submitted Preliminary Enquiry Forms.

Landlords can be given a grant of up to 75% 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 ( Test of Resources). Only properties within designated Town Centre Living Initiative Area boundaries are eligible.

We offer a step-by-step guide to applying for this grant.