Rampant speculation on empty dwellings, and not demographic change, is making Malta a more claustrophobic place to live
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved 65,737 new dwellings between January 1998 and May 2008, despite a corresponding increase of 17,000 vacant properties between 1995 and 2005.
A total of 34,146 new dwellings have been approved since 2005, while the number of permits for new dwellings has shot up from just 2,994 in 1998 to 11,343 in 2007 – an increase of 293%.
The greatest increase was registered in the number of apartments approved by MEPA which increased from 1,651 in 1998 to 10,252 in 2007: an increase of 521%.
On the other hand the number of maisonettes declined slightly from 755 to 696 over the same period. The most significant decrease was registered in the number of terraced houses approved by MEPA, which declined from 406 to 257.
While there was a steady increase in the number of apartments approved by MEPA, permits for maisonettes and terraced houses peaked in 2003 when 1,499 larger dwellings were approved.
Despite the massive increase in new apartments, the latest census shows that 43,108 properties are completely vacant all year round. 23,076, or 43% of all vacant properties are in a good state and a further 11,343 or 21% of the vacant property stock only need minor repairs.
Between 1995 and 2005, empty properties increased from 35,723 to 53,126 over the past decade. Excluding the 10,028 holiday homes which are occupied for some time of the year, 43,108 properties are completely vacant all year round.
With 36% of dwellings vacant all year round, St Julian’s emerges as the locality with the greatest amount of vacant properties, but still MEPA issued 1,870 new permits between 2000 and 2006 – 1,002 of which were issued just in since 2004.
More than 35% of Gozitan dwellings are also vacant all year round. Another 12% are holiday homes, empty for most of the year. Despite the very high vacancy rate, in the past seven years MEPA issued 6,035 new permits in Gozo.
And in Malta it is not just old localities like Valletta, Sliema, and Floriana which have a high rate of empty dwellings. 61% of St Paul’s Bay is vacant for most of the year.
Even when excluding the 4,467 holiday homes in the locality, one is still left with 4,295 properties vacant all year round. It is also the locality which saw most planning permits for new dwellings in the past seven years – 4,249.
And Marsaskala, demographically one of Malta’s youngest towns, still has 26% of its dwellings vacant all year round. And still, MEPA issued 2,251 new permits between 2000 and 2006.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
