May 17th, 2012
Gvern u l-Awtorità tad-Djar qed jgħinu familji u koppji Ŝgħazagħ billi jipprovdulhom sussidji fuq
l-imgħax f’kaŜ ta’ self għax-xiri tal-ewwel residenza jew fuq il-kirja ta’ postijiet. Anzjani qed
jingħataw għajnuna sabiex jirranāaw ir-residenzi li jgħixu fihom. L-Awtorità tad-Djar qed tgħin
ukoll lis-sidien ta’ proprjetajiet privati billi qed tikri mingħandhom residenzi vojta, u filwaqt li
tiggarantilhom dħul għal perjodu ta’ mill-anqas 10 snin, terāa’ tikrihom lill-klienti tagħha.
Waqt laqgħa ta’ informazzjoni organizzata mill-Awtorità tad-Djar mal-Assoëjazzjoni tal-
IŜviluppaturi Maltin (Malta Developers Association), il-Ministru tal-Āustizzja, Konsultazzjoni
Pubblika u l-Familja Chris Said qal li dan l-aħħar l-Awtorità tad-Djar nediet 17-il skema differenti.
Dawn l-iskemi huma intiŜi primarjament sabiex jgħinu lil numru ta’ familji, koppji ŜgħaŜagħ u
anzjani jaslu biex jixtru djarhom jew inkella jikru mingħand il-privat. Bejn l-2008 u l-2011, madwar
12,000 familja jew individwu gawdew minn waħda mill-iskemi tal-Awtorità tad-Djar. L-aktar
skema popolari kienet dik tas-sussidju fuq il-kera tant li fl-erba’ snin li għaddew 5,288 familja
gawdew minnha.
Il-Ministru Chris Said qal li permezz tal-Iskema Kiri mnedija fix-xhur li għaddew, l-Awtorità tad-
Djar irëeviet aktar minn 400 applikazzjoni minn sidien ta’ djar u appartamenti privati li jridu
jikruhom lill-Awtorità tad-Djar għal perjodu minimu ta’ 10 snin. Dawn il-proprjetajiet jerāgħu
jinkrew mill-Awtorità lill-klijenti tagħha. Din l-iskema diāà kienet suëëess u għaldaqstant il-Gvern
u l-Awtorità tad-Djar ħassew li għandha tiāi estiŜa b’mod indefinit. Ir-regolamenti kienu rfinuti
sabiex il-proëess tal-applikazzjoni jkun simplifikat, filwaqt li l-iskema issa se tkun miftuħa wkoll
għal postijiet āebel u saqaf. F’kaŜ li l-Awtorità tad-Djar issib li l-postijiet ikunu tajbin għall-kiri, issidien
jingħataw perjodu ta’ Ŝmien ëans sabiex ilestu x-xogħlijiet b’tali mod li jkunu jistgħu
jinkrew. Is-sidien jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn rata ta’ taxxa vantaāājuŜa ħafna ta’ 5% flok ir-rata
massima normali ta’ 35%.
Il-Ministru Chris Said fakkar ukoll li bħalissa l-Awtorità tad-Djar poāāiet għall-bejgħ bi prezz
issussidjat 123 fond residenzjali u 98 garaxx fi 15-il lokalità differenti. Hu qal li qed tinħadem
skema oħra intiŜa biex tgħin lil dawk li jridu jixtru l-ewwel proprjeta’ tagħhom mingħand il-privat.
April 23rd, 2012
The Malta Developers’ Association (MDA) has made submissions to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) as part of the public consultation exercise following its publication of a draft document setting out the strategic objectives of the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (SPED).
The submissions reflect the discussions carried out on the issue in the MDA council as well as in the BICC, the Building Industry Consultative Council.
Basically, the strategic objectives set out in the draft document should not be unduly controversial, the MDA said. However, it said in its submissions, the timeframe for the finalisation of SPED is too short and such an important document merits more discussion between all interested parties. The time allotted for the second stage – the drafting and the eventual finalisation of SPED – is certainly too short.
The MDA said the launching of SPED before the publication of the results of the census just carried out by the NSO is contra-indicated. One cannot define proper objectives as the draft document sets out to do without first scrutinising the current situation. The examination of the current situation is therefore flawed as it is not based on hard facts, as these hard facts are not yet in hand.
The issue of vacant properties is one of the more serious issues as far as the current situation is concerned. The document refers to a “guess estimate” of the number of vacant properties in Malta and Gozo. The census results on this figure (which is not yet known) needs to be followed up by a study in which a scientific sample of the vacant properties listed in the census are investigated so that one can arrive at a breakdown of the number of vacant properties, distributed according to the various reasons why the properties are vacant. The actual property situation and the demand and supply equation need to be researched scientifically before one can set out serious planning objectives in this area. Anything else is just guesswork: One can only keep guessing at what the strategic objectives regarding development of housing units should be.
The MDA said Mepa has failed to solve the problems resulting from the published, approved Local Plans and keeps refusing permits for proposed development that is within the parameters of the approved Local Plans. Attempting to solve this problem after SPED is approved will lead to a prolonged period of instability in the property market as we are in a position where one cannot be certain that a development according to Local Plan parameters will be approved. This means that the value of property within Local Plan areas is uncertain. Hurrying up SPED to solve this problem will lead to more mistakes and the Local Plans issues should be tackled as a priority.
Indicating particular policies at this stage – such as has been done in the case of semi-basements and penthouses – is a mistake as it gives the impression that they are the most important polices to be revised.
Changing existing policies in a way that decreases the development potential of sites when compared with the present situation is a very delicate issue as it could negatively impact on the assets of the private property owner, more so when the property in question would have been bought at a price that reflects the development potential at the time of the purchase. Apart from the inherent injustice in such moves, this also continues to contribute to an exacerbation of the uncertainty in the property market, with negative economic consequences.
The draft SPED objectives fail to highlight the problem of Gozo’s shrinking economy and effective resident population. There is no mention of a possible permanent link between the islands, even though the same Cabinet which approved the document approved the use of EU funding for studies about such a link. The document ignores the possibility of this link materialising during the period when SPED will be in force.
