The prevalence of vacant property in Malta has reached crisis proportions and no real efforts are being made to foster reuse of these sites. In October 2011, vacant property in Malta was reported to be worth an estimated €7 billion. The Chamber of Commerce real estate section said that if such funds were active in the economy they would generate some €350 million per year.

Vacant property in Malta was reported to be worth €7bn- Anthony Zarb, St Julian’s

Such properties could become a source of income not only for the state but also for their owners.

The government is duty bound to find out why these properties are abandoned on a case by case basis and implement remedies on the merits of each case.

If the owner/s cannot be contacted, an inventory list of these properties should be drawn up in Government Gazette to give the owners sufficient notice to remove the hazards and other social costs of the abandoned property. Local councils should be given the responsibility to check street by street for such a list to be drawn up.

New methods of acquiring abandoned property would help obtain property control from unwilling, unknown, or incapable owners. Both the private and public sectors have experience and lessons from other countries to draw upon to help in this situation.

At a time when the government is all out to balance its national debt and stimulate the economy, this challenge may be an opportunity to generate revenue and improve our quality of life.