Housing Authority launches two social housing schemes
New schemes promote sale of apartments, maisonettes and garages owned by the authority.
12 February 2014, 12:00am
James J. Piscopo
James J. Piscopo
1 min read
The Housing Authority has launched two schemes promoting the sale of apartments, maisonettes and garages owned by the authority.
One of the schemes will see the return of the 'Sir Sid Darek' campaign which was introduced by previous administrations.
Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca announced several amendments to the campaign, which now is available to all those living in social housing units regardless of when they moved in.
"The previous clause that only applicants who lived there for seven years could apply was removed. They will receive a 50% subsidy but those wishing to sell the purchased unit can only do so after ten years and have to payback 25% of the subsidies received. This will ensure good management of taxpayers money," Coleiro Preca said.
The second campaign launched will see the Housing Authority selling 43 apartments, three maisonettes and 40 garages.
The minister announced an increase in subsidies given, from 25% to 35%.
"This goes in line with the authority's vision to provide affordable housing. Anyone can apply except for those owning assets which amount more than 40,000," the minister said.
Coleiro Preca said that in contrast to previous years, the Housing Authority would not be able to commit itself to bank guarantees instead of the applicant, since this resulted in huge debts accumulated.
Jason Xuereb •
And what is happening to the applications submitted last year under the original Sir Sid Darek Scheme? Are they still valid? Have they been processed? Why have the applicants been left in the dark? Are the applicants going to be asked to re-apply? Why do we have only REPORTERS and no real investigative JOURNALISTS? Why does no one ask any questions?
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Come on Minister, "the Housing Authority would not be able to commit itself to bank guarantees instead of the applicant, since this resulted in huge debts accumulated." << >> Surely that is the Authority's fault for not taking prompt action to rope in offenders (after all it is nothing but taxpayers' money. Bhah!) Malta should reduce the public sector to no more then 10% of the working population. That should be enough personnel to handle all they are supposed to be efficiently doing now.
