When I bought my property I asked the agent three times if anyone could build on three adjacent, old, single-storey buildings and three times I was told “no” because they are of historic interest. Now I have a three-storey building next door!

Last week I helped a disabled lady look at a property. The back terrace had a wonderful view of the sea, but three of the buildings in between had not yet been developed to the allowable levels. When I asked the agent about this she said that as they were narrow they could not be developed to the full height. “Stuff and nonsense”! Of course they can, and I told her so. Furthermore, an inspection of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s website (excellent in my view) revealed that one of the buildings had planning permission to develop upwards. So, are there any honest estate agents out there? If there are, please let us know.

And while I am writing, how about changing the planning laws so that developers cannot take people’s sunlight and views away, something that many older people have lived with all their lives and now have lost forever!