Properties being gradually de-requisitioned

The Social Housing Department's policy is to uphold requests from property owners who request de-requisition of their properties, as long as they have been vacated, Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said in parliament yesterday.

Replying to questions by Labour MPs Stefan Buontempo and Joe Mizzi and Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo, the minister said some 9,389 properties currently remained under requisition order.

Dr Buontempo said the Labour Party had already declared it was against re-introducing the law on requisition. Once the government had also said it was against requisitions, why did it not immediately de-requisition all properties currently under requisition order?

Mrs Cristina said that although the government was against the concept of requisition, properties already under a requisition order could not be immediately de-requisitioned because the government had to protect the tenants. But once they became vacant and the owners requested de-requisition, such requests were favourably considered in a relatively short time. Each de-requisition request was considered on its merits.

She said 629 units were derequisitioned in 2001, 490 in 2002, 815 last year and 227 so far this year.