Second Shared Ownership issue

The launch of the first shared ownership initiative last year proved to be very popular.

On Thursday we launched a total of 260 units, which will be sold under the second Shared Ownership initiative. Under this initiative applicants who cannot afford the full price of the property can purchase the share which they afford.

Applicants can either choose to purchase one-third (Choice Two) or two-thirds (Choice One) of the property. The average subsidised price amounts to Lm24,238 if the applicant opts for Choice One, and Lm12,123 if the applicant opts for Choice Two.

Eventually applicants can purchase the property if they afford to buy it. Applicants have the right to purchase the other shares of the property within ten years at the same subsidised price.

The units in this issue include a total of 177 apartments, 82 maisonettes and one house. These units are found in Birkirkara, Bugibba, Burmarrad, Mriehel, Kalkara, Kirkop, Marsaxlokk, Mgarr, Msida, Mtarfa, Naxxar, Pembroke, Qala, Qawra, Qormi, Siggiewi, Tarxien, Victoria, Xewkija and Zurrieq.

These units are being reserved for families with children, engaged couples and single persons over 30, or over 18 for persons with disability, or leaving an institution. Under this issue a number of units are also being reserved for applicants over 30 who are separated (or de facto separated) who have joint custody of children or whose children live with them on certain days of the week. The first 10 per cent of all the properties will be allocated to applicants with disability.

In this issue the Housing Authority is extending its categories to include separated applicants who have children living with them on a number of days. In this way assistance is being given particularly to those fathers who have joint custody of their children.

Under this initiative, separated applicants can purchase affordable housing, providing a decent dwelling for their children. This is aimed also to help fathers who are sometimes caught short after separation proceedings.

Policy changes have been made regarding applicants' income and capital assets which were increased and the calculations of joint incomes. These changes will have a positive impact on the beneficiaries.

The policy of the Housing Authority is to promote more environment-friendly buildings. In line with this, beneficiaries are required to install solar water heaters and maintain this system.

Other energy-saving features include wells found in blocks in some localities. Water collected from these wells is used as second-class water in all units in the block. These features ensure that the beneficiaries not only made financial savings on electricity but were also making better use of available resources.

Plans of housing units for sale may be viewed today and Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Habitat Hall (opposite Boffa Hospital), where assistance by Housing Authority staff as well as bank representatives will be given.

Application forms can be otherwise collected from the Housing Authority, 22, Pietro Floriani Street, Floriana or 25, Enrico Mizzi Street, Victoria Gozo, during office hours. The closing date is October 10 (3.30 p.m.).

Ms Micallef is chairman of the Housing Authority