Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and the Property Market Chris Agius visited the offices of the Joint Office in Valletta. Here, they announced that the Joint Office, which is administering the scheme for the redemption of temporary emphyteusis or leased residential properties has already received more than 540 applications in the first three months since its launch.

Minister Borg spoke about how these numbers signify that many families will now become owners of their homes, and that, thanks to the scheme, these same families are now feeling what it means to have a government that works socially; “a government that ensures that there is no form of discrimination because, thanks to this scheme that we launched on the 1st of October 2019, and that will remain open to allow those who are eligible and interested to apply, those families that have a property under temporary emphyteusis or lease that is administered by the Joint Office have the same right to redeem the lease or emphyteusis as those that have a property administer by the Housing Authority and the Lands Authority. Therefore, it is my pleasure to see such a large number of applications, and I look forward to witnessing many more people who are eligible to apply coming forward with applications,” Minister Borg said. 

He also made reference to the work being done by the Joint Office, that is dealing with a lot of daily queries with an efficiency rate of 98% in their response.

Minister Borg concluded by thanking all the workers of the Joint Office and the Lands Authority for the valid work that they are doing with regards to this scheme and their daily work. 

“We need to keep on working – I reiterate my commitment in continuing to push forward schemes such as this one that give priority to the citizen, to the country’s residents, schemes that are truly delivering successes to the people. Today, our country knows what it means to have a committed government, a government that works tirelessly for the people and for the common good,” said Minister Borg.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said that the temporary emphyteusis or lease scheme for residential properties is allowing a lot of families to truly become owners of their homes. He explained that this scheme is giving this opportunity to Maltese and Gozitan families that live in a government property, and that is subject to temporary emphyteusis or lease with the Joint Office. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said that this is another scheme that the government has issued which will give a permanent solution to hundreds of Maltese and Gozitan families.