A total of 331 units are to go on sale on a shared ownership basis as the Housing Authority broadens the spectrum of people eligible for shared ownership.
Cohabiting adults, engaged couples, families with children and singles - including people leaving institutionalised care and separated parents with shared custody - are being included into the categories of people who may apply for shared ownership housing.
Speaking during a press conference to launch the sale of the units - 276 apartments and 55 maisonettes with a commercial value of Lm16 million (over €37 million) - authority chairman Marisa Micallef explained that changes were carried out after listening to the feedback.
The age of separated applicants that qualify for assistance had been reduced from 30 to 21 and the age of single applicants was reduced from 30 to 28 enabling more single applicants to benefit. The first 10 per cent of properties will be allocated to disabled applicants.
Changes were also made to the points system. An additional 100 points were given to victims of domestic violence as well as to applicants who were in paid employment six months before today (the launch of the property sale).
This important policy change, that gave points to applicants in employment, rewarded those who were trying to help themselves, Ms Micallef said.
She explained that the shared ownership initiative gave applicants the opportunity to purchase a share of the property which they could afford, according to the loan borrowed from the bank. Eventually applicants could purchase the rest of the property and benefit from a price freeze if they did so within 10 years.
Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina praised the success of the shared ownership scheme. She stressed the Government's initiatives to help first time buyers purchase property and referred to the measures announced in the last Budget, such as the subsidy on bank interest and the equity-sharing scheme to purchase property from the private sector with the assistance of the authority.
Ms Cristina also made reference to the unanimously approved parliamentary amendment to amalgamate the Housing Authority, the Department of Social Housing and the Departments of Building Construction and Maintenance with the aim of offering a more personalised and efficient service.
When asked about initiatives to help illegal immigrants and vulnerable people, the minister stressed that whenever the authority tried to open new residences, they faced countless problems and objections from residents and local councils.
Ms Micallef added that the authority tried not to publicise such projects since the stigma was so great that publicity would work against the individual.
Application forms may be obtained from the Housing Authority in Floriana and in Victoria during office hours. The Floriana branch will also be open tomorrow and on November 17, 18, 24 and 25 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The closing date for applications is December 11.