Public consultation on the Buyers’ Charter launched to promote greater transparency and protection in property purchases.
Accommodation and Lands Minister Owen Bonnici launched a consultation process that should lead to the design of a Buyers’ Charter that sets out clear principles, standards and expectations for all residential property transactions.
The Buyers’ Charter is one of the electoral promises being addressed within the first 100 days of this Government, reflecting a vision that recognises that a person’s housing needs can change over the course of their life.
Minister Bonnici stated, “When a person buys a property, they are making a decision that could affect their life, as well as their family, for many years. We therefore want the buyer to know exactly what their rights and responsibilities are, what to look out for and what to do if their rights are not respected. We are bringing together all stakeholders to build, through consultation, a practical, clear and credible Buyers’ Charter. This is the policy that gives more voice, more awareness and more power to the consumer.”
Housing Authority CEO Matthew Zerafa said, “The role of the Housing Authority is not only to provide assistance in the area of housing but also to contribute to a property market that works better for people. The Buyers’ Charter should provide an opportunity to establish, together with stakeholders in this sector, a common set of principles and expectations that apply to all buyers of residential property. Our ambition is that this Charter serves as a national statement of what constitutes good practice in the property market in our country.”
This initiative will build on the First-Time Buyers Guide, introduced by the Housing Authority last year, but will have a much broader scope: it will not only be directed at those purchasing their first property, but at every buyer of residential property, regardless of age, life stage or reason for entering the market.
The Buyers’ Charter will be based on principles of transparency, awareness of rights and responsibilities, and consumer empowerment, including clear information on what a buyer can do when their rights are not respected.
The process will bring together key players in the sector, including developers, estate agents, banks, architects, notaries and public authorities, with the aim of creating a single, accessible and practical tool. This Charter will also highlight good practices and challenges that buyers should be aware of before making one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.
Anyone wishing to participate in the public consultation on the Buyers’ Charter can visit https://www.gov.mt/mt/publicconsultation/Pages/2026/NL-0031-2026.aspx and give their opinion. The consultation will remain open for two months.