Tomorrow the Housing Authority will be announcing the sale of 143 affordable properties. This sale issue is part of the Housing Authority's building programme whereby the Authority builds and sells some 150-200 properties each year. These properties are sold for 33 per cent less than the commercial price.
There are 117 apartments, 24 maisonettes and two houses which are being reserved for:
¤ families with children
¤ engaged couples
¤ applicants with physical or intellectual disability or mental illness
¤ single applicants or separated persons or widow/ers (over 30 years)
¤ single applicants who spent time in a residential care service (over 18 years)
These categories have a number of units being reserved for them in the following manner:
¤ 55 per cent for families with children
¤ 30 per cent for engaged couples
¤ 10 per cent for persons with disability or mental illness
¤ 5 per cent for singles over 30
In each category, 10 per cent of units are reserved for applicants who have a disabled family.
Properties are situated in Bugibba, Birkirkara, Fgura, Lija, Marsaxlokk, Mqabba, Msida, Naxxar, Pembroke, Qawra, Qrendi, St Paul's Bay, Siggiewi, Zurrieq, Victoria and Xewkija.
There are also 118 garages for sale in this issue. Applicants can opt not to purchase the garage combined with the apartment/mai-sonette.
Applicants are means-tested and the maximum income allowed for applicants who are either married or engaged is Lm9,000 and capital assets Lm15,000.
In the case of single persons income should not exceed Lm6,500 and capital assets should not exceed Lm9,000. With regard to overtime, only 25 per cent earned by a potential buyer will be taken into consideration.
Capital assets include bank accounts, fixed deposits, profits, shares and inheritance, among others, and checks will be made in order to verify an applicant's position. An income-related subsidy on interest rates is also available.
The following conditions must also be met when applying for a housing unit:
¤ applicants must be over 18 years
¤ applicants must be over 30 years in the case of single applicants/widows or separated persons unless they have experienced institutional care, in which case they can be aged 18 and above
¤ applicants must be Maltese citizens. In the case of married persons, only one need be Maltese
¤ applicants must not have bene-fited from any other home Ownership scheme of the Housing Authority
¤ Priority is being given to those who have experienced domestic violence and are experiencing delays with legal separation.
Prices for these properties range from Lm12,700 to Lm19,800 for a maisonette and Lm12,100 to Lm27,800 for an apartment.
There are maisonettes with two and three bedrooms and apartments with one, two and three bedrooms. A points system is also in place and points are given for age, size of dwelling, living conditions, price of rent paid (if applicable) and other criteria.
Plans of the properties will be available for viewing today and next Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Habitat Hall, Floriana (opposite Boffa Hospital). Assistance will be available from Housing Authority staff and bank representatives.
Forms may be collected from the Housing Authority 12, Pietro Floriani Street, Floriana or 25, Enrico Mizzi Street, Rabat Gozo. The closing date for applications is December 5.
Ms Micallef Leyson is chairman of the Housing Authority