In 2025, almost one family per day became a homeowner through the Housing Authority schemes. These schemes are built on three main objectives: to strengthen home ownership, reduce the rent burden on tenants and improve the quality and adequacy of homes in which families live.
These results were presented during a cordial visit between Minister for Accommodation and Lands Owen Bonnici, Permanent Secretary Ramon Deguara and the management of the Housing Authority, which this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment. During the meeting, the Housing Authority’s achievements in 2025, as outlined in its Annual Report, were discussed, while the Strategic Plan for 2027–2029 was also presented.
In 2025, the Housing Authority helped more than 15,200 families through an investment of €50 million. Of these, 339 families were given the necessary support to become homeowners.
Minister Owen Bonnici said that these results show how government policy in the field of housing continues to make a concrete difference to people’s lives.
“When almost one family every day realises the dream of homeownership, we are seeing the results of a policy that puts people at the centre of its decisions. Housing is not just a roof over families’ heads, but a foundation for security, dignity and a better quality of life. We will continue to invest so that more people can build a stable future for themselves and their families,” said Minister Bonnici.
Housing Authority CEO Matthew Zerafa said that the Authority is changing from an entity that responds to challenges to one that anticipates them. “By investing in technology, research and smarter systems, we are creating an agile organisation capable of providing solutions to today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s realities. All this to offer more efficient, more modern and ever-closer services to people.”
The Annual Report also highlights significant improvements in other areas of the Authority’s work. The digital transformation has led to a more efficient service and a substantial reduction in waiting times, with the average processing time for Rent Benefit Scheme applications decreasing from 69 days to 23 days.
At the same time, an investment of over €4.2 million led to the regeneration of 79 residential blocks, the installation of 42 new lifts and 1,207 maintenance and repair interventions. The Authority also continued to broaden its services towards the most vulnerable through almost 1,000 assessments by the social workers’ team, an extensive outreach programme and collaboration with NGOs and community groups. In addition, it continued to collaborate with other entities to facilitate the reintegration of persons exiting the Corradino Correctional Facility and introduced new measures to strengthen support to persons fleeing situations of domestic violence.
The Authority is also looking to the future through the Strategic Plan 2027–2029, which sets out a vision for an ever more modern and innovative Authority that remains close to the people it serves.
By 2028, the aim is to make the Authority fully paperless, with a single portal for all schemes, more efficient processes and a network of regional centres across Malta and Gozo to further bring services closer to communities.
The plan also includes investments in the sustainability and energy efficiency of social housing, as well as a wider use of artificial intelligence to speed up the processing of applications and improve services.