The University Students’ Council (KSU) was never granted title by the University over Students’ House, and the council, therefore, could not lease out parts of the building.

In a report requested by the House Public Accounts Committee, the Auditor-General said there had been shortcomings by the University in never having regularised the position.

However, the actions by the students’ council in leasing parts of the building were not conducive to accountability and transparency.

The Auditor called on the University and the Council to regularise the situation. The auditor also said he was concerned that the Disposal of Government Land Act did not preclude autonomous (public) bodies from disposing immovable assets without the monitoring by competent authorities.

The inquiry had been requested by Labour MP Owen Bonnici last December.

He noted that it had resulted from a parliamentary question answered by the Minister of Education that part of the building had been handed to the University Students’ Council for purposes of administration. The Students’ Council had then rented out the lower floor to businesses, which paid their rents to the council.

Dr Bonnici said government rules were not followed in the granting of these properties and the decisions to whom the properties were leased to and at what price was taken solely by the students’ council in a process that was not transparent.

Shortly after the inquiry was requested, the KSU said the revenue from the rental of outlets at Student’s House were a vital source of income and funded a good part of the projects conducted by the council .

KSU said it was a totally non-profit organisation and its financial independence was one of the crucial characteristics that guaranteed KSU’s autonomy and independence, acting as the highest student representative body at the University of Malta.