Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 19,743 of 2nd February 2018

HomeAssistLoans – Housing Authority

RepaymentAssistance Scheme

1.Aim of the scheme

TheHousing Authority, in collaboration with Bank of Valletta p.l.c (the Bank) andthe Foundation for Social Welfare Services, will be participating in a schemeto assist persons to purchase a property for residential and personal use andthus become home owners.

2.Scheme’s Procedure

Thisscheme is intended to those applicants who wish to purchase their residence forpersonal use from the private sector.

TheBank of Valletta, subject to all bank’s criteria being satisfied, will begranting applicants a maximum loan up to €120,000 to purchase a property infinished and habitable state or in shell form state which can be rendered to ahabitable state at the total expense of €120,000 which includes the purchasingand finishing of same property.  Thetotal amount of loan, where applicable, will cover the deposit related to thepurchasing of the property.  In addition,the Authority will assist applicants by granting them a monthly subsidy of notmore than €167 on loan repayment to the Bank of Valletta in relation to theloan towards the purchase of this property.  Furthermore, the Authority will be assisting these applicants with theprofessional services of a Notary, who will be appointed by the HousingAuthority.

3.Qualification to Apply Under This Scheme

Thefollowing persons can qualify for subsidy from the Housing Authority under thisscheme, if on date of application, they are:

(a) Over the age of 18;

(b)Maltese citizens;

(c)in full-time employment;

(d)not in possession of assets exceeding €23,300;

(e)not in possession of other immovable property;

(f)legally separated by a final judgment of the Competent Court pronouncingseparation or legally separated by means of a public deed;

(g) not in possession of annual aggregate incomeexceeding:

€20,000in case of couples, who are both/or one of them in employment;

€19,000in case of single parents which children living with them.

€18,000in case of single persons

€20,000in case of a disabled persons or family with a disabled member.

Overtime,in work benefit (IWB) and tapered unemployment assistance (UAT) are not to beconsidered as part of the aggregate income of the applicant.

4.Aggregate Annual Income

Forall purposes of the application, the calculation of the aggregate annual incomeof applicant shall be as follows:-

(a)the gross income from any occupation, pay and/or salary, pension and/or othersocial benefits earned by the applicants during the basic preceding calendaryear.  When the application is made bytwo, the gross income of both applicants is taken into consideration.

(b) the applicant’s income and those of his wifeduring the basic calendar year from capital assets such as; bank deposits,stocks, shares, loans, rents, investments in commercial enterprises, otherinvestments in property, including capital gains.

Theovertime, in work benefit (IWB) and tapered unemployment assistance (UAT) arenot to be considered in the calculation of the gross income.

5.Conditions of the Scheme

(a)The property, which is to be purchased by the applicant, should be built inaccordance with building regulations and planning permits, be in a finished andhabitable state, or in shell form as long as the purchase price and the amountof the necessary finishing do not exceed €120,000.

(b)The property which qualifies under this scheme should be used and occupied bythe applicants exclusively as their ordinary residence.

(c)In case of finished properties, applicants must occupy the property purchased,within six (6) months from the date of deed whilst applicant purchasingproperties in shell form, these should occupy the property within two (2) yearsfrom the date of the deed.

(d)As long as the applicants are enjoying subsidy under this scheme, applicantsmust not rent or transfer the property under any title to third parties.   They should not allow third parties tooccupy the immovable property under any title even if by gratuities or by meretolerance.

(e)If applicants wish to transfer the properties to third parties, they shouldobtain a written consent from both the Bank and the Authority in order totransfer the property and any payment of subsidy enjoyed under this scheme,should be terminated as soon as the total balance of the loan is paid to thebank together with the interest incurred and any other legal fees.

(f)In the eventuality, that the applicants, after obtaining the necessary consentsto transfer the property, want to sell their property purchased under thisscheme to third parties, they should refund to the Authority any fees indicatedby the Authority which fees where paid by the Authority on date of deed andwhich are mentioned in Clause 5(j) & (k). For the avoidance of doubt it is being clarified that, on the sale ofthe said property to third parties, the loan given by the Bank has to be repaidwith any interest incurred to the bank together with other ancillary fees.

(g)In the case married / engaged couples or two persons who have entered into aCivil Union get separated/ annulled, divorced or terminated their relation bothapplicants shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of such dissolution,give a written notice thereof to the Authority.   In the case of the above eventuality, theAuthority reserves the right to revised the subsidy.  For the avoidance of doubt it is beingclarified that applicant has to continue paying the loan together with itsinterest, until a new agreement is reached in order to sign a new agreementwith the Bank where one of the applicants intends to shoulder the full loan andtransfer the whole title of the property onto his name.

(h)The Authority will have the right to suspend the payment of subsidy under thisscheme if  the applicant fails to effecteven one loan repayment, and even if the applicant  does no longer satisfy all conditions of thescheme even though he would have been eligible for subsidy on date ofapplication or on date of agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt it is being clarified that, in thiseventuality, the bank will have the right to ask applicant to pay the full loanrepayment and this without prejudice to any legal rights towards the bank inregard to the repayment of loan by applicant.

(i)The conditions of this scheme should form an integral part of the deed of saleand the applicants should declare that they are fully aware and fully acceptthem.

(j) The Authority is to pay for all professional notarial fees andexpenses.  These include fees dueNotaries according to law, fees for registration of deed and other fees relatedto the publication of the deed, but the fees related to searches are excluded –such fees will have to be paid by the applicant.  Bank processing fees which include legal andprofessional fees, are to be paid by the Authority.  If the eventuality that the deed of sale andloan is not concluded for any reason, and therefore not published, the banklegal and professional fees due to the bank will have to be fully paid by theapplicants.

(k)In eventuality that the property is sold to third parties, the Authority willnot be bound to pay any fees/expenses;

(l)The deposit paid on Preliminary Agreement should be retained by the Notaryuntil the final deed is signed;

(m)The subsidy under his scheme will be directly deposited at Bank of Valletta;

(n)The loan facility is only granted by Bank of Valletta p.l.c if all Bank  of Valletta p.l.c’s established conditionsand criteria are satisfied.  The Bank ofValletta p.l.c’ s decision in this regards should be final.

6.Subsidy Granted Under This Scheme

(a)The subsidy will be granted to applicant as long as he qualifies for it andaccording to the following schedule:

(b)Schedule of Subsidy

In additional, singlepeople who:

(1)lived in care; or

(2)were for a period of time fostered;

theycan benefit from the subsidy amounting to a maximum of €3,200 per annum untilthe age of twenty eight (28).  This meansthat these applicants will be granted twice the amount of rent subsidy they areentitled to according to Table above.

Theannual income for the basic year above indicated in tables above shall bereviewed every year by the amount of increase on a yearly basis other NationalMinimum Wage.

Amember of the family is to include only:

(1)the applicants; and

(2)children living in the household including fostered children, grandchildren orchildren related to the applicant up to the second degree even in thecollateral line.  The children must be:

(i)not married or in a Civil Union; and

(ii)dependent on the applicant; and

(iii)not gainfully employed; and

(iv)under 18 years of age.

Theage limit shall not apply to children registered as disabled.

(c)The first payment of subsidy is effected as soon as the first payment on loanis due to the bank and applicants effects his first monthly repayment.  In case the applicant is in receipt of rentsubsidy issued by the Authority, this subsidy is terminated with immediateeffect and as soon as the first monthly subsidy on loan under this scheme isissued.

7.Revision of Subsidy

Thesubsidy is revised evert two years. Every two years the Authority will carryout a full means test on applicants which includes the checking of both incomeand assets, but the value of the property purchased under this scheme is notconsidered as assets. In each year where a revision of income/assets takesplace, the applicant has to satisfy all conditions of the scheme and will notbe eligible for any subsidy if he does not satisfy all conditions of thisscheme (even though he would have been eligible for subsidy on date ofapplication) and this in agreement with the Bank.

8.Loss of Subsidy

Ifan applicant who has applied successfully under this scheme:

(i)has given incorrect information, which is proved to be false or incorrect, hewill automatically forfeit the right from benefiting from subsidy under hisscheme; In addition, the Authority will have the right to report the case toinvestigative authority concerned.

(ii)Does not satisfy all the condition of the scheme upon revision date whichoccurs every two years;

thesubsidy will be terminated with immediate effect in accordance with the Bankand applicant will not be entitled to any further subsidy.

Inthe eventuality where one or more of the conditions of this scheme are not adheredto, the applicant shall automatically forfeit the right for subsidy under thisscheme.  The Authority’s decision toterminate the subsidy, in accordance with the Bank, will be final and this iswithout prejudice to any legal rights towards the bank in regard to therepayment of loan by applicant, interest due and other ancillary fees.  The applicant will be obliged to pay apenalty fee of ten euro (€10) per week, or for any part thereof and this untilthe same applicant adheres to the same conditions.

9.Right of Refusal

Notwithstandinganything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Scheme, the Authority aswell as the Bank shall have the right to refuse any application and theirrespective decision will be final.

10.Interpretation

Incase the Maltese text differs from the English text, the Maltese text willprevail.

11.Amendment of Scheme

TheAuthority shall have the right to make any amendments to this Scheme, and thisin agreement with the Bank, by publication of the said amendments in theGovernment Gazette.

2ndFebruary, 2018

Housing Authority

SchemeNikru Biex Nassistu

With reference to Scheme Nikru Biex Nassistupublished in the Government Gazette of the 1st September, 2017 the Housing Authority wishes to effect the followingamendments:

(a) Amend Clause 2 to read as follows:

2.Any owner of vacant residential property in a finished state or shell form andbuilt in accordance with building regulations and planning permits is eligibleto apply under this scheme.  Alsoeligible are properties which are being offered on plan and which already havea development permit.  Properties inshell form and on plan will be handed to the Authority in a finished state.Preference will be given to properties served with a lift.

(b) Amend Clause 3.1 to read as follows:

3.1The applicant is legally authorised to rent the property to the Authority. Inaddition, there should not be any pending litigations in regard to thisproperty and same property is not subject to sale by auction (subbasta).

(c) Amend Clause 3.3 to read as follows:

3.3Preference will be given to properties served with a lift;

(d) Amend Clause 3.6 to read as follows:

3.6The applicant is to provide a compliance certificate for utility servicesapplication when requested for it by the Authority. The applicant is also toprovide the necessary lift certificates, where applicable together with anEnergy Performance Certificate (EPC).

(e) Amend Clause 3.8 to read as follows:

3.8The applicant is to form part of the condominium in accordance with theCondominium Act, Cap. 398, where applicable, which condominium will beresponsible for the maintenance of the common parts and lift where applicable.The contribution of the common parts due for each apartment leased to theAuthority will be paid directly by the Authority to the applicant. Thismaintenance fee will be capped by the Authority depending on the number ofunits within the block which amount will be directly deposited in theapplicant’s bank as mentioned in clause 4.2 together with the amount of rentdue to applicant.  For the followingyears, a revision of the maintenance fee is to take place at the rate of 2% perannum. The applicant is to remain responsible for the residents’ associationand related obligations as per Clause 3.17

(f) Amend Clause 3.10 to read as follows:

3.10The applicant authorises the Housing Authority to sublet the property to thirdparties for residential purposes at its absolute discretion. The Authority willhave exclusive rights to collect the rent due by her prospective tenants. Inreturn, the applicants will authorise the Housing Authority to transfer thebills of both water and electricity services onto the prospective tenants.

(g) Amend Clause 3.12 to read as follows:

3.12The applicant must insure against all risks, including third party risks, theblock/property including the common parts, being offered to the Authority underthis scheme. In addition, they also bind themselves to submit to the Authority,on a yearly basis, a copy of the said policy. If the applicants fail to insureor pay the insurance, the Authority will have the right to pay for such policyand deducts rent payable to applicant with the amount of insurance paid.  A letter will be then sent by the Authorityto the applicant to inform him of the above.

(h) Amend Clause 3.14 to read as follows:

3.14A fitted kitchen should be installed including appliances consisting of afridge/freezer, a hood, hob and oven in very good condition.  The full equipped bathroom, which should bein a very good condition, should include shower/bath, wash hand basin, watercloset, a water heater and accessories. In case, during the duration of the lease agreement, any one of theappliances needs to be replaced, the Housing Authority may take the necessaryaction to replace it without the need for consent of the applicant. The HousingAuthority and the applicant agree that these movable objects are not to bereturned to applicant at the termination of the lease agreement or after thelapse of the ten year period whichever comes first.

(i) Amend Clause 3.15 to read as follows:

3.15The common parts of block of apartments should be fully finished including liftwhere possible, intercom system, meter cupboards, electricity system, stairrailing and letter boxes; 

(j) Amend Clause 3.16 to read as follows:

3.16The applicant is responsible for all extraordinary repairs and maintenance ofthe property including, but not only, the structural repairs, ordinarymaintenance of the external envelope, any faults related to the plumbing,electricity and drainage system.  Inaddition the applicant is also responsible to reinstate any damages caused bylack of proper maintenance described above;

(k) Amend Clause 3.17 to read as follows:

3.17The applicant is also responsible for all ordinary and extraordinary repairsand maintenance of the common parts of a block of apartments, which include:

structuralrepairs;

maintenanceof the external envelope;

roofmaintenance;

faultsin electricity system in the common parts and intercom;

wherea lift is installed, its maintenance agreement, certification of engineer, liftrescue service line charges and extraordinary and non scheduled repairs;

regulardecoration works;

paymentsof the electricity and meter charges of the common parts,

Onthe other hand, the prospective tenants of the Authority will be responsiblefor the repairs and ordinary maintenance of the property leased to them.

(l) Add the following Clauses after Clause 3.18:

3.19The Housing Authority is responsible for the payment of all utilities billsincluding, water, electricity and telephone services. On the date of thesigning of the rental agreement, the applicant binds himself to settle allpending bills covering both the consumption and the rental of all utilitymeters. In addition, the applicant is obliged to present evidence showing thatall bills are settled, which evidence is to be attached to the rentalagreement. The utility bills are to be transferred onto the Housing Authorityby the applicant within seven days from the date of the rental agreement andthe same applicant is to furnish the Authority with the necessary documents toeffect the transfer.

3.20 During the rental period, the applicant bindshimself to inform the Authority in case he intends to transfer the property tothird parties. In the case where the property is transferred to third partiesduring the rental period, the applicant is obliged to inform the prospectivebuyers that the property is subject to a rental agreement together with theterms and conditions regulating same rental. In addition, the applicant is toattach the rental agreement entered into between himself and the Authority tothe deed of sale of same property.

3.21The applicants reserve the right to inspect the immovable property offered forrent under this scheme, in which case, he obliges himself to inform theAuthority at least forty eight hours before the inspection and also carries outthe inspection if he is accompanied by an official of the Authority.

(m) Amend Clause 4.6 to read as follows:

4.6Ensure that the tax due by the successful applicant on the rental income of theproperty rented to the Authority under this scheme, will be paid by theAuthority.

(n) Amend Clause 5.3 to read as follows:

5.3Where the property or block of flats indicated in the application submittedunder this scheme are still in shell form or on plan, an availability agreementbetween the Housing Authority and the applicant will be signed where the Authoritybinds itself to rent the property once all finishes are completed.  The Authority reserves the right to carry outa final inspection when the property is completed with all the finishes andshall also have the right not to accept the property even where modificationswould have been made, (even if such modifications would have been ordered bythe Authority) where the quality of the finishes are not acceptable to theAuthority. Applicants must oblige themselves to finish the property fromeverything, at the absolute discretion of the Authority, and not beyond thetime of two years from the date of the signing of the availability agreement.

(o) Clause 7 to read as follows:

7.The lease agreement between the Authority and the applicants may be terminatedin case where any of the conditions of the scheme or the rental agreement arebreached by the applicant as well as in the eventuality that the applicantfails to observe to his obligations.  Inaddition, where the Housing Authority decides not to terminate the leaseagreement, the Authority will have the right to impose a penalty up to amaximum of €20 per day until the applicants regularise themselves with theconditions of both the scheme and rental agreement.

2ndFebruary, 2018

MEASURES AND SUPPORT DIVISION,

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIATFOR EU FUNDS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE

MINISTRY FOR EUROPEANAFFAIRS AND EQUALITY

Announcement– 1st February 2018

BusinessEnhance ERDF Grant Schemes

Operational Programme I –Cohesion Policy 2014-2020

Fosteringa Competitive and Sustainable Economy

toMeet Our Challenges

TheMeasures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs andEquality (MEAE), designated by the Managing Authority as the Intermediate Bodyresponsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the EuropeanRegional Development Fund (ERDF) under the 2014 – 2020 programming period,would like to announce the following call:

Call3 – Start-up Investment Grant Scheme

PriorityAxis 3 – ‘Enhancing Malta’s competitiveness through investment in SMEs’

Thisscheme shall now be administered through an open rolling call system.

Nextcut-off dates:

Friday,30th March, 2018, at noon;

Thursday,31st May, 2018, at noon;

Tuesday,31st July, 2018, at noon.

An information session will be held for prospectiveapplicants on 14th February, 2018. Prospective applicants may register through the following link:(https://businessenhance.gov.mt/en/Pages/Information-Sessions.aspx)

Furtherinformation on this call including the respective Guidance Notes and theGuidelines for Implementation may be obtained from(https://businessenhance.gov.mt​).

2ndFebruary, 2018

Operational Programme I − European Structural andInvestment Funds 2014-2020

“Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy tomeet our challenges”

Advert part-financed by the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF)

Co-financing rate: Public Eligible (80% EuropeanUnion; 20% National Funds)

DEPARTMENT OF EXAMINATIONS

Examination for the Post ofSecurity Guard in the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and CapitalProjects – 2018

PART I − WrittenExamination

The Director of Examinationsnotifies that the result of the above examination has been published and may beseen at the Examinations Department, the Mall, Triq Sarria, Floriana, and at theExaminations Centre, Victoria, Gozo, during office hours.

2nd February, 2018

TRANSPORTMALTA

Noticeto Owners of Vehicles Removed

fromthe Road

Inaccordance with the Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and EncumberingObjects Regulations S.L. 65.13, Transport Malta is hereby publishing a list of vehicles that were removed from the roadfor being in breach of the Motor Vehicles Registration and Licensing Act (Cap.368) and the Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles Regulations S.L.368.02 and which have not been retrieved by their lawful owners.

Thelist includes a description of the removed motor vehicles. The vehicles arecurrently being stored at Transport Malta’s compound.

Respectiveowners are to retrieve their motor vehicle from Transport Malta upon submissionof proof of ownership and upon payment of the applicable registration tax,licences, contraventions and other administration fees that may be due.

Vehicleswhich are not retrieved and for which any applicable registration tax,licences, contraventions and other fees are not paid by the 17th February, 2018will be auctioned and, if not sold, will be destroyed.

Furtherinformation may be obtained on Tel. No. 2555 5446/70 between 7.30 a.m. and noonor from (auctions.tm@transport.gov.mt).

2ndFebruary, 2018

Tenders awarded lists Gaz 2.2.pdf

GĦARB LOCAL COUNCIL

Suspension of Traffic and Parking

The Għarb Local Councilnotifies that on Sunday, 4th February, 2018, Pjazza Żjara tal-Madonna from Triqil-Knisja corner with Triq il-Viżitazzjoni will be no parking and closed totraffic from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

2nd February, 2018

NaxxarLocal Council

Suspension of Parking andTraffic

 The Naxxar Local Council notifies that onSunday, 11th February, 2018, from 6.00 a.m. up to 2.00 p.m., part of Vjalil-Labour from corner with Vjal il-21 ta’ Settembru up to corner with Triqil-Ġdida (the part adjacent to the playing field) shall be considered as a towingzone and will also not be accessible to traffic.

Triq il-Ġdida (the partadjacent to the playing field) shall also be considered as a towing zone.

2nd February, 2018

SAN ĠWANN LOCAL COUNCIL

Suspension of Parking

The San Ġwann Local Council notifies that noparking will be allowed in the two (2) parking spaces in Vjal ir-Rihan, infront of the Parish Church in the following days: from Sunday, 11th February,2018, from 8.00 a.m., till Wednesday, 14th February, 2018.

2ndFebruary, 2018

Ħal lija Local Council

AnnualLocality Meeting

Inaccordance with Article 70 (1) of the Local Councils Act (Cap. 363), an annualpublic meeting will be held on Wednesday, 7th February, 2018, at 6.30 p.m., atthe Ħal Lija Local Council office, Triq Robert Mifsud Bonnici.

Allresidents whose names appear in the last Ħal Lija Local Council’s ElectoralRegister are urged to ​attend and to participate in the discussion.

Participantscan put forward their suggestions for the council’s consideration.

2ndFebruary, 2018

ĦAMRUN LOCAL COUNCIL

Suspension of Traffic and Parking

The Ħamrun Local Councilnotifies that for the occasion of the ‘Festa tal-Baned fil-Karnival’ no parkingis allowed in various streets and roads will be closed as follows:

On Saturday, 10th February,2018, no parking is allowed in Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud (from Triq Manwel Magrito Triq Ċensu Bugeja) as from 4.00 p.m. till 11.00 p.m.

Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud (fromTriq Manwel Magri to Triq Ċensu Bugeja) will be closed for all traffic as from5.00 p.m. till 11.30 p.m.

Oncoming traffic from SantaVenera direction Ħamrun/Valletta will be diverted from Triq il-Kappillan Mifsudto Triq Mons. Depiro, while oncoming traffic from Valletta direction Ħamrunwill be diverted from Triq Schembri to Triq Pietru Xuereb/Triq Joe Sciberras toTriq Manwel Magri,

No parking is allowed in Triqil-Kanun (from Triq Antonio Miruzzi to Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp) as from 6.00p.m. of Saturday 10th February, 2018 till 11.00 a.m. of Sunday, 11th February,2018.

No parking is allowed in Triqil-Kbira San Ġużepp, as from Triq Nazzjonali till Triq Schembri, as from 8.00p.m. till 11.30 p.m. of Saturday, 11th February, 2018.

Public Transport will bediverted.

Parked vehicles will be towed.

On Sunday, 11th February,2018, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp (from Triq il-Kanun to Triq Ħal Qormi), Triq DunNerik Perez, Triq il-Ferrovija, Triq l-Iskola, Triq is-Sorijiet iż-Żgħartal-Fqar, Triq id-Duka ta’ Edinburgh, Triq Tommaso Caruana Demajo, Triq SantuWistin, Triq Fra Diegu, Triq Ċensu Borg and part of Triq Villambrosa (from TriqĊensu Borg to Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp) will be closed for all traffic as from8.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.

No parking is allowed in Triqil-Kbira San Ġużepp (from Triq il-Kanun to Triq Ħal Qormi) and in Triq il-Kanun(from Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp to Triq Antonio Miruzzi Santa Venera) as from6.30 a.m. till 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 11th February, 2018. 

Oncoming traffic from SantaVenera direction Valletta will be diverted from Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp toTriq il-Lunzjata Santa Venera, while oncoming traffic from Valletta directionĦamrun will be diverted to Triq Ħal Qormi/Triq Schembri.

Public Transport will bediverted.

2nd February, 2018

MARSALOCAL COUNCIL

Suspensionof Parking

TheMarsa Local Council notifies that on the hereunder mentioned dates no vehiclescan park at G. F. Abela Square, Marsa due to activities organised by theCouncil.

OnSaturday, 3rd February, 2018, from 5.00 p.m. till 8.00 p.m.

OnThursday, 8th February, 2018, from 6.00 p.m., till Friday, 9th February, 2018,at midnight. 

2ndFebruary, 2018