Social housing sector in Malta has reached a critical point, the nationalist Party said. Despite the Government's promises, the reality is that many families, young couples, elderly people and vulnerable persons are still finding it difficult to secure an affordable home or social accommodation.

The latest information published shows that there are 1,890 pending applications for social accommodation, an increase of almost 300 applications when compared with figures given just a few weeks earlier, the PN said. This contradicts claims that the waiting list has decreased substantially. It also contradicts the priority given to social wellbeing in the Labour Party's electoral manifesto under the theme "Int Malta".

Moreover, important housing projects are experiencing delays. For example, the tender for the housing project in Ħal Kirkop was revoked due to shortcomings in the procedure, meaning further waiting for those who have long been waiting for a roof over their heads.

This is happening at the same time as pressure on the property market has continued to increase. Sale prices and rents have continued to rise at a rate higher than wage increases, making it almost impossible for many young people to buy their first home or even afford stable rent, the PN said.

According to parliamentary replies, between January 2024 and November 2025, the Housing Authority received more than 50,000 requests for assistance - a fact which shows how great the need for help in the housing sector really is.

The PN said it believes that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. This is why there is a need for greater investment in social and affordable accommodation, more transparency in the management of projects, and stronger protection for tenants.

The statement was signed by Ivan Bartolo, Shadow Minister for Social Policy and the Family, and Stanley Zammit, Shadow Minister for Accommodation and Lands.

In reply, the Ministry for Social Accommodation and Lands said that the waiting list is a dynamic one, where new applications are received daily while social housing allocations are simultaneously being made.

In fact, as confirmed in a recent parliamentary question, at the end of June the list consisted of approximately 1,745 applicants, which shows that this is not a static figure, but one that reflects a constantly changing situation.

The Authority's priority is to ensure stability in the sector through a long-term plan. In this context, a record of 941 social housing allocations have been made in the last two years, which has led to the waiting list remaining at one of its lowest levels in the last 15 years, while the Authority continues to adapt to new demand and trends.

At the same time, the authority continues to update and strengthen targeted assistance schemes such as the Rent Benefit, which also provide support to those waiting for a social housing solution, the government said

Through digital transformation and improvements in processes, the average processing time for this benefit has decreased significantly, from 69 days to 23 days.

It is also worth explaining that of the figure of 50,000 people who approached the Housing Authority, about 18,000 were requests related to the registration of contracts and other services linked to the private residential rental sector.

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that all 50,000 cases were requests for assistance, the ministry said.