All those occupying government property irregularly through an expired concession, whether residential, agricultural or commercial, are to be given a chance to regularise their position and have their concession extended by a further 50 years without the need for a public tender or a competitive process, The Shift can reveal.
In what is being described by Lands Authority insiders as the latest ‘vote-buying’ scheme, in which the government will be currying favour to hundreds, possibly thousands, of tenants, those recognised as title holders will have the opportunity to regularise their position over the next three years, through a simple application to be approved by the Lands Authority.
The rules of this new scheme were published by Lands Minister Silvio Schembri a few weeks ago through a new legal notice, just after parliament rose for the summer recess.
Sources at the Lands Authority told The Shift that the scheme has been ‘informally promised’ to individuals occupying public land irregularly for many years and is now being implemented on the direct instructions of the prime minister in an attempt to bring back to the fold disgruntled voters and their families.
According to law, all those with an expired concession should have returned the keys to the Lands Authority. If not, the Authority should have started procedures to repossess the property and release it again through a public tender, offering the possibility to all those interested in bidding for public property in a competitive exercise.
However, over the last few years, the government permitted concessioners to keep occupying government properties even though their concessions had expired. The Lands Authority took no action to observe the law and evict the irregular occupants.
Now, all those who claim title on government properties with an expired concession will be given a further temporary concession of 50 years, with the payment of a one-time fee and new generous lease terms based on valuations to be made by the Lands Authority.
According to the scheme, the annual ground rent will be calculated at 2% of the market value of the property valuation and will only increase by 10% once every ten years.
In the case of commercial premises, such as shops in prime areas, the scheme will also create unfair competition with those operating their business in properties leased on current commercial rates.
The new scheme is also open to those with a valid temporary concession, which will expire before 2030.
These tenants will also be allowed a further 50-year extension, again bypassing the public tender process.
The only exceptions are concessions approved by parliament, usually for large commercial projects where the land exceeds more than 1,500 square metres, kiosks, concessions granted by a tender (recent ones) and agricultural land that is developable according to the current local plans.
The number of public properties around Malta and Gozo that could become eligible for this scheme is as yet unclear.
Can you already tell when this injustice law is being kicked into the trash can by the courts?
it will not be trashed as long as the muvument corrupt rules.
Can some body PLEASE take this little weasel out of circulation?
don’t insult weasel please.
What a disgusting scheme. Our population has always been divided into two. Those who are granted property for a pittance, and the rest of us who have to work all their lives to pay their loans.
Absolutely revolting
Say goodbye to Bingemma Fort, suckers (and that’s each and every law abiding citizen)!
U zgur, you can say goodbye. What did you expect? Justice or something?
I hope there would be someone who would challenge this abusive scheme in our Courts. If the temporary concession has expired, then Lands Authority is duty bound to take possession of the land and re-issue it through a public tender, for everyone to have the opportunity to bid.
Although one can somehow understand extending an expired concession related to an ordinary residence (however there is already a scheme in this sense in place), this scheme is referring to commercial properties, boathouses, offices and unbuilt plots amongst others. Isn’t this an abuse of the system. Silvio Schembri has long been administering public lands as if they are his, in return for personal favours.
It has already been reported in other parts of the media, that one of the persons to be benefitting from this abusive scheme is Robert Abela himself. His Valletta office is on an expired lease since 2017, and he has been rent free since then. Now his Government has launched this scheme so he would benefit from it, without competing with others through a public tender. Good governance my foot!
I am not a legal person myself, however I feel that there is a strong legal ground to contest this abusive system in our courts.
Mafia, The Police should curb this corruption!
how can that be, when The Police is part of the corrupt system!
What police ????!!!!
Porkerija and misappropriation of public property for political purposes and infringement of electoral laws by politically selected prostitute employees.