Legal Update | New Tourism Accommodation Regulations (S.L. 409.24): A Guide for Short-Let Property Owners in Malta Real Estate & Construction

Legal Update | New Tourism Accommodation Regulations (S.L. 409.24): A Guide for Short-Let Property Owners in Malta

The local market for short-let rented accommodation has grown rapidly over the past decade, with non-collective accommodation, including short-let apartments, houses and villas, increasing its share of inbound tourist accommodation. However, whilst this growth has brought about economic opportunity, it has also raised concerns around community impact, housing affordability, waste management, noise, enforcement and the quality of the visitor experience. The legal regime governing tourism accommodation did not fully address the specific challenges arising from the rapid growth of short-let platforms and was fragmented across multiple instruments, namely the Malta Travel and Tourism Services Act (Cap. 409), the Tourism Accommodation…
Judgement on the Right to Enforce a Promise of Sale Agreement Litigation & Dispute ResolutionReal Estate & Construction

Judgement on the Right to Enforce a Promise of Sale Agreement

In a judgement delivered on the 5th December 2025 having application number 1187/2023(HM), the Civil Court, First Hall affirmed that for a contracting party to enforce a  promise of sale agreement and invoke the right of action as contemplated under the Civil Code, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta, that party must be in a position to appear on the final deed of sale. The right of action for the enforcement of a promise of sale agreement features in Article 1357(2) of the Civil Code, which  provides that, “The effect of such promise shall cease on the lapse of…
The Distribution of the Life Insurance Proceeds Between Ex-Spouses Insurance & ReinsuranceLitigation & Dispute Resolution

The Distribution of the Life Insurance Proceeds Between Ex-Spouses

The First Hall, Civil Court delivered a judgement on the 13th July 2023 (Rikors Nru: 749/2020FDP) about the manner in which the maturity proceeds of a life policy with profits were to be distributed by the defendant insurer, Eagle Star (Malta) Limited, between the plaintiff and the other defendant (the latter two, collectively referred to as “the ex-spouses”). The life policy was issued in the name and on the life of the plaintiff while said plaintiff was married to the other defendant and their matrimonial regime was regulated by the community of acquests. Before the life policy had matured, the…
Veronica Grixti
6th September 2023
Rainfall or No Rainfall Insurance & ReinsuranceLitigation & Dispute Resolution

Rainfall or No Rainfall

In a judgement dated 25th January 2023 in the names Knightsbridge Developments Limited vs Citadel Insurance plc, Rik. Nru. 978/08 (TA), the Court of Appeal explained how the exclusion in the insurance policy prevailed over the application of the concept of proximate cause, as it is commonly applied. This decision makes an important contribution to the body of Maltese insurance substantive law. This case focused on an insurance claim made by the plaintiff against the defendant insurance company under a ‘Contractors All Risk Policy’ that was issued by the defendant insurance company in favour of the plaintiff  in relation to…
Veronica Grixti
31st August 2023
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Regulations under the Private Residential Leases Act Real Estate & Construction

Regulations under the Private Residential Leases Act

On the 31st December 2019, a set of regulations were introduced for the purpose of registering private residential leases with the Housing Authority and in order to regulate the procedures to be followed before the Adjudicating Panel for Private Residential Leases in the event of disputes relating to said private residential leases.Private residential leases can now be registered here:https://rentregistration.mt/. A. Registration of Private Residential Leases Contracts Regulations, 2019 • Overview and scopeThe Registration of Private Residential Leases Contracts Regulations, 2019 (Subsidiary Legislation 604.02) have been enacted by virtue of L.N. 355 of 2019, hereinafter referred to as "the Regulations". The…
Veronica Grixti
20th January 2020
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Private Residential Leases Act 2019 Real Estate & Construction

Private Residential Leases Act 2019

Overview and scopeThe Private Residential Leases Act has been enacted by virtue of Act No. XXVIII of 2019, hereinafter referred to as "the Act". The object of this Act is to promote the development of the private rented sector by ensuring standards of fairness, clarity and predictability in contractual relations between lessors and lessees, and to safeguard and protect the right to adequate accommodation.ApplicationThe Act shall apply to private residential leases that are entered into or renewed after the entry into force of the Act. This rests on the proviso that leases which were granted after 1st June 1995 and…
Veronica Grixti
20th November 2019