‘Nikru Biex Nassistu’ Scheme Renewed With €38 Million Investment To Support Over 1,300 Families
Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, Roderick Galdes, has announced the renewal of the ‘Nikru Biex Nassistu’ scheme a programme aimed at leasing private properties to the Housing Authority for use as social accommodation.
Currently, over 1,300 families are living in homes provided through this scheme.
Speaking during a press conference, Minister Galdes described ‘Nikru Biex Nassistu’ as one of the government’s key social housing initiatives. He emphasised that landlords who lease their properties to the Housing Authority under the scheme will continue to benefit from guaranteed rent, advance rent payments every six months, and tax exemption on rental income. Rental contracts under this scheme are valid for ten years.
Minister Galdes encouraged more property owners to participate in the initiative, highlighting its dual benefit helping individuals eligible for social accommodation while offering landlords financial stability.
Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes addresses a press conference regarding the “Nikru biex nassistu” scheme
The renewed scheme also includes a new feature aimed at encouraging landlords to join when their tenants are already on the Housing Authority’s waiting list. This measure is designed to reduce the number of families waiting for social housing while keeping them in their current communities.
“In the first six months of this year alone, over €5 million has already been invested through the ‘Nikru Biex Nassistu’ scheme in rent payments to landlords providing homes for social purposes, Since the scheme’s launch in 2017, the total investment has reached around €38 million.”, Minister Galdes said.
He described the scheme as one of the government’s innovative tools to address the social housing waiting list, which has been cut by nearly half over the past eight years.
Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes addresses a press conference regarding the “Nikru biex nassistu” scheme
Minister Galdes concluded by saying that the renewal of the scheme reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to social well-being and acknowledges the valuable partnership between the public and private sectors in this field.
Matthew Zerafa, CEO of the Housing Authority, added that through ‘Nikru Biex Nassistu’, the Authority is diversifying social housing provision in a way that responds sensitively to family needs offering not just shelter, but also stability and a continued connection to the community in which residents have grown up.
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