The government has initiated a two-month public consultation process to develop a national Buyers' Charter aimed at bringing greater transparency, clarity, and protection to residential property transactions.

Launched by Minister for Accommodation and Lands Owen Bonnici, this measure fulfills an electoral commitment for the government's opening 100 days and addresses the reality that housing needs evolve throughout a person's life.

Minister Bonnici emphasised that buying a home is one of the most significant financial and personal decisions a family can make. The charter is designed to ensure buyers clearly understand their rights and responsibilities, know what potential pitfalls to watch out for, and have actionable recourse if their rights are compromised. By bringing key industry stakeholders together, the initiative seeks to create a practical, credible tool that empowers everyday consumers.

Building upon the First-Time Buyers Guide introduced by the Housing Authority last year, the new charter expands its scope to cover all residential property purchasers regardless of age or life stage. Matthew Zerafa, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority, noted that the project aims to establish a shared set of national standards for good practices within the local property market.

The collaborative consultation process engages a broad spectrum of professionals and authorities, including property developers, real estate agents, commercial banks, architects, notaries, and public regulators. Together, they will work to shape a single, accessible framework highlighting best practices and critical considerations before buyers commit to major investments.

The public consultation will remain open for two months. Interested individuals and organizations can review the proposal and submit their feedback by visiting the official government consultation portal at https://www.gov.mt/mt/publicconsultation/Pages/2026/NL-0031-2026.aspx.