The ongoing efforts in the social and affordable housing sectors are silently but radically changing the day-to-day existence of thousands of Malta and Gozo residents. These efforts are not just figures on paper, but tangibly enhance the living conditions, stability, and welfare of families, elderly persons, and individuals who for years have dreamed of owning a decent home.
Current studies and the 2024 Housing Authority Annual Report support this trend. A total of 550 new social housing allocations were completed last year alone, keeping up the rate of the preceding years.
In addition to that, programmes which started in earnest from the year 2017 led to a reduction in the national waiting list by about 50%. These results are being achieved through a mix of new build, focused regeneration of empty and existing property, and innovative new approaches such as Nikru biex Nassistu, in which public demand is being fulfilled via the private rented sector.
These statistics are tales of change. On average, every fortnight, a family becomes a homeowner due to Housing Authority programs such as Deposit Guarantee, Equity Sharing, Sir Sid Darek, New Hope, and Social Loans.
These programs are quite literally opening doors for people who never believed that home ownership was possible. At the same time, two other families receive financial assistance every day to complete necessary repairs to their homes, such as structural repairs, health and safety improvements, or quality-of-life modifications.
It is not only a question of numbers; it is a question of the quality of this strategy. New social housing developments are being constructed in Siġġiewi, Qrendi, Mellieħa, Bormla, and Ħal Farruġ, the largest such developments in Malta. Even the existing social housing estates are being refurbished with new facilities, better access, and infrastructure works such as the provision of new lifts.
Overall, almost 12,300 households were supported by Housing Authority schemes in 2024, through an investment of over €70 million. The investment of funds reflects a wider policy orientation to view the home as the foundation of social policy, sustaining communities, fostering inclusion, and facilitating long-term well-being.
Apart from its function in the supply of housing, the role of the Housing Authority as a regulator has increased. Changes to the Private Residential Rent Law have necessitated the registration of rent contracts, with more than 55,700 new registrations in 2024 alone and in excess of 66,000 current contracts at the close of the year. This works towards a fairer, transparent rental market.
Malta has one of Europe's highest rates of home ownership, with the official data indicating that 85% of Maltese own their home. No coincidence; the outcome of consistent, progressive policy merging social need and economic sense. As Malta forges ahead with the long-term housing strategy, it is common knowledge that the sector can no longer take a backseat. It is a matter of national interest, and the impact is being felt on a familial level, street by street.
Roderick Galdes is Minister for Social Accommodation