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NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2020 MATTHEW AGIUS PARLIAMENTARY secretary for Social accommodation Roderick Galdes has an- nounced a €10 million housing scheme for persons who cannot afford to buy a home but do not qualify for social housing. Under the new scheme, the Housing Authority would provide a stock of apart- ments with affordable rents. The 118 apartments, which are to be built in the tal-Patri area of Fgura would be available at a five-year fixed rent of €300 monthly for one-bedroom, €400 for two-bedroom and €500 for three-bed- room units. Galdes explained that the concept was intended to help people who would other- wise not afford to transition into the hous- ing market. Local banks would help finance the scheme and be paid from the rent collect- ed, he said, but insisted that the aim was not profit. The qualifying criteria would be the in- come and the composition of the family, Galdes explained, saying that the scheme was aimed to help families who do not qualify for the social housing waiting list but still cannot afford to rent or own a property. "This will totally change the model of how we look at housing in this country," he added. The scheme will not affect the current stock of 1,700 buildings currently used for social housing. Housing Authority CEO Leonid Mac- kay said that the Authority 'absolutely disagreed' with the notion that the State should only provide social accommoda- tion. "We believe that the state should have a more direct and active interest in pro- viding adequate social housing and to see that there is a market of affordable rents for persons with low income, as well as to regularise the rental market," he said. The measure is one of a raft of measures introduced by the Authority, intended to help those who cannot afford housing. "Last year we spoke about rent benefits, and how a family cannot spend over a quarter of its income on housing, but we see that not only cash benefits are needed but also a stock of affordable housing. We can build without looking only at profit," Mackay said. The idea is that the housing will be a transitory measure for not more than five years until the tenants find their feet and can afford to rent or purchase property on the general market. He thanked Galdes and the Authority's board for "literally building the housing strategy over the past two years." Taking a question from reporters, Galdes said that the Authority was cur- rently waiting for planning permission and would then begin the construction of the units. "There is the commitment and discussions with banks are underway," he said. Rents fixed for five years in low-income housing scheme 'Game-changing' €10 million housing scheme provides rents from €300 a month fixed for five years Housing Authority chairman Joseph Bartolo, Parliamentary secretary Roderick Galdes, and Housing Authority CEO Leonid MacKay