The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) said it has ordered the immediate closure of an apartment block in Swieqi as it was found to be opeating in breach of regulations for short-lets, the authority said Tuesday.

In a statement, the MTA said it continued to carry out an ongoing programme of inspections in the locality of Swieqi in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Community Police and the Swieqi Local Council. These coordinated inspections have already produced tangible results, with the MTA initiating the appropriate legal and enforcement action where breaches have been identified, the MTA said.

With regard to the apartment block in Swieqi that was the subject of recent enforcement action, the MTA conducted further inspections which established that a significant number of apartments within the property were operating in breach of the conditions attached to the licence issued by the authority. Consequently, the MTA is commencing enforcement proceedings and taking all legal measures available against the licensee of the apartment block concerned.

The MTA remains committed to conducting similar inspections in Swieqi and across other localities to identify instances of non-compliance and ensure adherence to the applicable regulatory framework.

The authority said that, under the revised accommodation regulations, any short-let property found to be operating without the required licence will be barred from applying for a licence for a period of three years. This restriction applies to the property itself and is without prejudice to any administrative penalties, fines, or judicial proceedings that may also be instituted in accordance with the law.