HOUSING AUTHORITY ISSUES 99 HOUSING UNITS FOR SALE

The Housing Authority today announced the sale of 99 housing units. Speaking at the press conference, Marisa Micallef Leyson, Chairperson of the Housing Authority, said that in this sale, the Housing Authority is offering five per cent more units for married couples and five per cent less for engaged couples.

Ms. Micallef Leyson explained that there were three innovative aspects to this issue. As in previous issues, the Authority is reserving twelve per cent of its units in each category for applicants with a disability. However, this time, for the first time, families living with a person with disability may apply for all units within the category they fall under. "Not all units offered by the Authority are wheelchair accessible", said Ms. Micallef Leyson, "however not all people with a disability are wheelchair bound".

The second innovation is with regard to the sale of garages. If applicants do not wish to purchase a garage, then they are not obliged to do so. Applicants however, would have right of first refusal.

The third aspect is that this time almost 9% of housing units are two-bedroom, reflecting the fact that the Maltese family is constantly becoming smaller.

Deputy Prime Minister and Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Housing Authority is constantly revising its policies to ensure that its resources are targeting those beneficiaries with the higher needs. In this sense, the three innovations which the Chairperson mentioned fall squarely with this new social commitment and thrust of the Housing Authority.

The Minister remarked that in this sale the Housing Authority is offering property with a market value of Lm2.8 Million to the subsidised price of Lm1.8 Million. On top of this, beneficiaries can avail themselves of a scheme which provides a subsidy on loan interest rates from the Housing Authority. "This is another commitment which Government has promised', said Dr. Gonzi, ‘that of assisting families to become home owners."

There are 99 housing units for sale in this issue. Forty of them are apartments and are in Attard, Fgura, Msida, Qawra, Tarxien, Vittoriosa and Zebbug. The 58 maisonettes are in Attard, Mellieha, Mosta, Pembroke, Qrendi, Swieqi, Zabbar. In Gozo maisonettes are in Kercem, Qala and Xewkija. There is also a cluster House in Mtarfa.

Finally, explained Ms Micallef Leyson, with regard to technological aspects, the Housing Authority was constantly updating itself, and with this aim, the Housing Authority has now placed its application form together with other relevant information on the internet. One can access this on the website of the Ministry for Social Policy at website http://www.msp.magnet.mt

The development plans of all the premises will be put up for viewing at the offices of the Housing Authority, "Habitat Hall", Binja Filippo Sciberras, Floriana and at the Housing Authority Branch at 25, Enrico Mizzi Street, Victoria, Gozo from Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. and between 2.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.; Saturday, 24^th February, between 10.00a.m. and 4.00 p.m.; Sunday, 25^th February, between 9.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.; Saturday, 3^rd March, between 10.00a.m and 4.00 p.m.; and on Sunday, 4^th March, between 9.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.