From Mr M. Briguglio

Housing should be given priority by the new government. In particular, Malta requires a national plan that aims for more social justice and less hardship in the housing sector.

The price of housing in Malta has kept increasing over the past years, and this has resulted in placing a heavy burden on thousands of families, which include young people who buy their first property, low and middle-income earners, and those who are reaching pensionable age. Housing is a social issue and should not be dictated by market forces or textbook solutions.

Malta requires policies that result in more affordable prices. Policies in this regard can include subsidies on loans for the purchase of first properties; better provision of affordable social housing by the State; financial aid to those who buy their first property and those who have economic difficulties such as loss of employment.

Zminijietna – Voice of the Left opposes further liberalisation in the housing sector, as this will result in serious problems and difficulties for thousands of families. Malta’s national census shows that the majority of families living in rented properties are ageing. It is a fact that ageing is a factor that can lead to poverty. Therefore, policies based on social justice should not result in more liberalisation of this sector. The abolition of the pre-1995 rent laws should not be seen as a simple technical exercise! It can result in the eviction of people! A more socially just solution can be found whereby the owners of such properties could be compensated by the State. This will also ensure that there are no social shocks, no instability, and ultimately, no homeless people.

We also believe that land and property speculation should be confronted. Vacant properties increased by 17,000 over the past 10 years while permits for development increased by 48,000 in the last seven years. The census shows that 22.4 per cent of properties in Malta are permanently vacant. It is ironic that while the number of vacant properties is increasing, the rationalisation exercise of 2006 increased the area of land available for development. Zminijietna believes that ODZ land should be revised and reduced, and properties that are vacant purely for speculative reasons (say from the third vacant property onwards) should be taxed.

In the meantime, Zminijietna – Voice of the Left has submitted its election memorandum to the political parties. The memorandum covers areas such as the economy, education, the environment, and social policy and can be read at www.zminijietna.org

Michael Briguglio

Public Relations Officer

Zminijietna – Voice of the Left