Notices published in Government Gazette No 21,280 of 5th July 2024

Housing Benefit on Privately Rented Dwellings (2019)

With reference to the Housing Benefit on Privately Rented Dwellings Scheme published in the Government Gazette of the 1st of February 2019, the Housing Authority wishes to effect the following amendments with immediate effect:

1. Amend Clause 5 (1) (b) to read as follows:

(b) the applicant must have entered into a contract of lease with the landlord on the residence he/she wishes to rent and the rent agreement should be registered with the Housing Authority and this according to Chapter 604 of the Laws of Malta.

2. Amend Clause 5 (1) (c) to read as follows:

(c) the applicant is a Maltese citizen or an EU citizen, a person enjoying a refugee status, a person who possess the status of subsidiary protection, who enjoys a long term residence status or who enjoys a specific residence authorisation. In the case only of married couples but not separated, one of the couple must be a Maltese or EU citizen; and

3. Delete Clause 5 (1) (d).

4. Amend Clause 6 (a ) to (e) to read as follows:

6. Disqualification

A person shall not qualify to make an application under this Section if:-

(a) the aggregate annual income of the applicant/s exceeding the amount as laid down in Clause 13 and/or

(b) the unit on which an application is being submitted is not being used as the ordinary residence of the applicant and his family;

(c) the rental agreement is not registered with the Housing Authority and this according to Chapter 604 of the Laws of Malta.

(d) the applicant has already benefited from any assistance under what used to be known as the 'Home Ownership Scheme'; and/or

(e) the applicant has already benefitted from subsidy on the rate of interest issued by the Housing Authority or the Department of Social Accommodation and has retained the rights on the same property on which subsidy was enjoyed.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, a person whose spouse has died and who has benefited under any scheme referred to above, may make an application under the provisions of clause 5 of this scheme provided that he/she proves to the Authority, at its own discretion, that the property which had so benefited, had to be sold to satisfy debts due incurred under exceptional circumstances.

5. Delete Clauses 7 (2) and (6).

6. Amend Clause 11 to read as follows:

11. Administrative charges and abandoned applications

(i) Each application for assistance under this Scheme shall be lodged to the Authority and that application shall not be accepted unless accompanied by the sum of ten Euros (€10) as an administrative charges and together with all the necessary documents.

(ii) Any expenses incurred by the applicants in connection with their application, shall not be recoverable by the applicants whether or not their application is accepted by the Authority.

7. Amend Clause 12 (i) to read as follows:

12. Aggregate annual income

For all purposes of the application, calculation of the aggregate annual income of applicant shall be as follows:-

(i) the gross income from any occupation, pay and/or salary, overtime, pension and/or other social benefits (excluding children's allowance, medical assistance and non-contributary allowance) earned by the applicants during the basic preceding calendar year. In the eventually that the applicant had no income in the preceding year, the Authority will take in consideration the income being earned by applicant on date of application. When the application is made by two or more applicants, the gross income of all applicants is taken into consideration.

8. Delete Clause12 (ii).

9. Amend Clause 13 (iii) (b) to read as follows:

(b) in each year where a revision of income takes place, the applicant has to satisfy all conditions of the scheme and will not be eligible for any housing benefit if he/she does not satisfy conditions at Clauses 5 and 6 of this scheme (even though he/she would have been eligible for benefit on date of application). In this case the applicant will not be eligible for further benefit.

10. Amend Clauses 13 (iv) & (v) to read as follows:-

(iv) the benefit shall become effective from the first day of the month following acceptance of application, but future revisions shall become effective from the next payment due and after two years from the first day of the month following acceptance of application.

(v) the benefit is paid to applicants monthly in advance. While the Housing Authority will no longer be asking the applicants to submit the rent receipts every three months, and this because the benefit will be issued only if the rental agreement is registered with the Housing Authority, the applicant is obliged to keep the rent receipts for at least a period of six months.

If the applicant fails to submit the rent receipts when asked for by the Housing Authority, the applicant will be obliged to refund the benefit that has been given under the Scheme during that year. In additions, the Housing Authority retains the right at its discretion, to request for rent receipts when it deems appropriate.

11. Amend Clause 15 (e) to read as follows:-

(e) fails to submit valid rent receipts when asked for by the Housing Authority.

12. Add the following to Clause 15 (ii)

The rent benefit is suspended immediately as soon as the rental agreement is no longer registered with the Housing Authority, or the contract is terminated. In the case where the rent receipts are not presented when requested for, the beneficiary will be obliged to refund the amount of benefit enjoyed during the year under this scheme

ANNOUNCEMENT – 15th June 2024

Business Enhance Grant Schemes

ERDF Grant Schemes 2021-2027

Feasibility Studies

The Measures and Support Division within the Office of the Prime Minister (European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue) has been designated by the Managing Authority (MA) as an Intermediate Body (IB) responsible for administering European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Grant Schemes through the implementation of Support Measures under the 2021-2027 programming period.

This Division would like to announce the launch of a new aid scheme on 15th June 2024:

Feasibility Studies

The Measures and Support Division is launching Call 1 Feasibility Studies on 15th June 2024. This Call will be managed through an open rolling-call with periodical cut-off dates, which are set at noon of the following dates:

It is important to note that the process to submit an application under this call requires the submission of a Project Concept Note to the Measures and Support Division. Interested applicants may submit their Concept Note anytime through email on (applications.businessenhance@gov.mt). Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Measures and Support Division on (msd.eufunds@gov.mt) or 2555 2635 for more information.

The Guidance Notes and the User Guide to the Application may be obtained from (https://fondi.eu) or by contacting the Measures and Support Division.

Planning Authority

Update to the 2018 Basemap

The Planning Authority notifies that it is undertaking an update to the 2018 Basemap. To this extent it will be carrying out surveys by means of drones in the following locality on the respective dates:

Victoria (Gozo) and Ta' Kerċem – 11th July, 2024

Any queries should be directed to (geomatics@pa.org.mt).

Agenzija Zaghzagh tenders awrded list Gaz 5.7-4​ 

Suspension of Traffic and Parking

The Naxxar Local Council notifies that on Saturday, 13th July, 2024, from 1.00 p.m. till midnight, Pjazza Vittorja (in front of the parish church) will be closed for traffic, and the area around the parish church, and Triq Santa Luċija (till Triq l-Ifran) will be considered as a towing zone.

Suspension of Traffic

The Nadur Local Council notifies that the following streets shall be closed for traffic in the following days:

On Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, 6th July, 2024 till Monday, 30th September, 2024, from 7.00 p.m. till midnight, from Triq Diċembru Tlettax and Pjazza San Pietru u San Pawl.

Suspension of Traffic and Parking

The Mosta Local Council notifies that on Thursday, 1st August, 2024, from 3.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m., Triq il-Kungress Ewkaristiku will be closed, parking is prohibited, traffic will be diverted to Triq it-Torri. Triq il-Kbira will be closed for traffic from 5.30 p.m. till 8.00 p.m., traffic will be diverted to Triq il-Bażilika and Triq il-Kostituzzjoni,

Public transport will not be affected;

On Friday, 2nd August, 2024, from 3.00 p.m. till 8.00 p.m., parking is prohibited on side of Triq il-Kostituzzjoni,

Transit and public transport will not be affected;

On Thursday, 8th August, 2024, from 3.00 p.m., till Friday, 9th August, 2024, till 2.00 a.m., Triq il-Kbira from Pjazza Rotunda to Misraħ San Leonardu will be classified as a tow zone and therefore the transit and parking of vehicles will prohibited,

Entry from Pjazza Rotunda to Triq il-Kbira till Misraħ San Leonardu will be prohibited.

Public transport will be affected.

Suspension of Traffic

 The Ħaż-Żebbuġ Local Council notifies that:

On Friday, 5th July, 2024, from 3.00 p.m. till 9.00 p.m., part of Triq Sciortino will be closed for traffic.

Parked vehicles may be towed.

Traffic and Parking Suspension

The San Lawrenz Local Council notifies that on Friday,  9th August, 2024, and Saturday, 10th August, 2024, from 4.00 p.m. till 2.00 a.m.; on Sunday, 11th August, 2024, from 4.00 p.m. till midnight, the main square will closed. No parking will be allowed in the square and Triq id-Duluri;

On Friday, 9th August, 2024, from 9.00 p.m. till midnight, Triq San Lawrenz, the main square, Triq id-Duluri and Triq Ta' Cangura will be closed for traffic during the band marches;

On Sunday, 11th August, 2024, from 7.00 p.m. till midnight, Triq San Lawrenz, the main square, Triq id-Duluri and Triq Ta' Cangura will be closed for traffic during the procession. During the same time the following streets will be affected: Triq id-Duluri to be a 2-way road thus no cars can be parked and part of Triq il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral will also be a 2-way street;

On Sunday, 4th August, 2024, from 5.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m., the main square will be closed. On Monday, 5th August, 2024, from 5.30 p.m. till midnight; on Tuesday, 6th  August, 2024, from 4.00 p.m. till midnight; on Wednesday, 7th August, 2024, and on Thursday, 8th August, 2024, from 5.30 p.m. till midnight, the main square will be closed. Triq id-Duluri to be a 2-way road thus no cars can be parked and part of Triq il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral will also be a 2-way street.