Tenants to be offered share of ownership

The Housing Authority intends to introduce a scheme giving those renting out government property the opportunity to partially own their home by forking out part of the equity.

Authority chairman Marisa Micallef Leyson said: "People often look at renting as a waste of money. Through this shared ownership scheme we want to encourage people to feel proud of their home and to take care of it," she said.

Ms Micallef Leyson said a small block of housing units had been identified as a pilot project and this scheme should be introduced before the end of the year.

"Depending on how much people can afford we would offer them the chance to buy a quarter or half the equity. If it works we will extend the scheme to other units," she continued.

"I believe that the home ownership culture in Malta is very strong and we have to work on that."

In the interview, Ms Micallef Leyson highlighted certain obstacles faced by the authority, together with achievements and projects under way.

She said the waiting list to rent a government property now stood at 3,000. About 500 of these applicants are in dire need of new housing because their home is in a precarious condition. However, one problem was that many refused to apply for various refurbishment schemes because their chances of obtaining a new property would be diminished if they were no longer in danger.

"Some time ago we visited a few hundred at-risk residents on the waiting list, mostly in Valletta and Cottonera. All except two refused the repair work because they would lose points for a new home," she said.

Ms Micallef Leyson said that this no-win situation required a political decision.

On the other hand, the authority came across families who were not even on the waiting list but were living in appalling conditions and had no idea that a care and repair scheme existed. "Very often these are vulnerable people, the bulk being elderly women living on their own or single mothers. Thanks to our campaign on television some are coming forward," she said.

The authority was also receiving referrals about such people from parish priests or local councils. The most common repairs carried out under this scheme involved the bathroom.

Ms Micallef Leyson pointed out that the scheme, launched in May 2002, was generally proving to be successful. A satisfaction survey carried out by the authority among those who had used the scheme in the past months showed that overall clients were pleased with the outcome of the work, which they said improved their well-being.

This scheme is being given a lot of attention and the authority has just been awarded aid under the EU's Leonardo programme to send four of its staff to attend a two-week vocational placement with two leading care and repair agencies in the UK.

The authority has also submitted a project proposal for eventual consideration under another EU scheme, Equal, which aims to promote the employability and social inclusion of young persons leaving institutional or foster care.

This project involves a holistic package of support including vocational guidance, training, mentoring and work placements, as well as five years of housing subsidy. It aims to enable young people to put themselves on a sound footing by means of suitable accommodation and a certified skill or trade.

Touching on housing projects which have been completed or are in the process of completion, Ms Micallef Leyson said that since 1999 the authority had built 1,252 units costing a total of just over Lm17 million.

Asked whether empty government property could be utilised for housing units instead of building new ones, Ms Micallef Leyson said it was not as easy an option as it seemed. "First of all there is a lot more housing stock than we need in all the wrong places which do not match our clients' needs. Secondly, it will cost the authority about 40 per cent more to convert and refurbish old property than it is to build a new unit. Thirdly, the authority has no jurisdiction on state-owned property since 9,000 government-owned residential units still belong to the Lands Department," she said.

Ms Micallef Leyson said the authority should have responsibility for state-owned property. "The reality is that things are not always what they seem."