Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503554
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 JULY 2023 KURT SANSONE PROPERTY owners with ex- pired government leases will be able to extend the concession by 50 years under new regulations out this week. A legal notice is expected for the first time to lay down at law the conditions for extensions of residential, commercial and agricultural land leases that have expired or will expire in the next seven years. The rules are expected to address the sit- uation of 1,800 properties. The rules will not apply for emphyteutical concessions ap- proved by parliament; conces- sions exceeding 1,500sq.m (ex- cept for agricultural purposes); kiosks; concessions granted following a call by tender; and agricultural or rural lands within the development zones. Concessions granted on lands and property that are not ag- ricultural leases will have the new ground rent calculated at 2% of the open market value for the specific use. The sum will be revised every 10 years by 10%. In the case of agri- cultural holdings consisting of arable land, the recognised emphyteuta shall be given a ti- tle of agricultural lease (qbiela) and the new rates will be estab- lished by the authority. The market value of the prop- erties will be established by in- dependent architects. These rules will address a saga that has been dragging on for years, leaving property owners in limbo. Existing laws allow the Lands Authority to evict property owners upon ex- piration of leases, contemplate an extension of the concession or issue a tender for the land. However, the manner by which the extension is to be granted is not specifically regulated at law, leaving the authority to decide on an ad hoc basis. Apart from this, the regis- tration of lands and property that had been passed on by the church to the State as part of the 1993 concordat is still on- going with the result that cer- tain leases have long expired. The slow progress in regis- tration also means that more properties and lands could eventually benefit from the scheme. The new rules will give small property holdings certainty for the future, while allowing them to regularise their position for the expired period based on clear rules. A payment of one lump sum must be made for the occupan- cy of the land in the cases of expired concessions, under the same terms as stipulated in the original concession. "This scheme sends out a strong message of certainty to all those whose residential property, fields or commercial establishments faced an un- certain future, who can now apply for this scheme to secure a stronger title and plan on in- vesting further into their hold- ings," Lands Minister Silvio Schembri said on Tuesday. The 50-year lease extension will provide a stronger title that allows individuals to se- cure bank financing for invest- ment. The scheme is open to those with expired land leases or those that will expire by the end of December 2030. The Lands Ministry will be issuing new rules that allow expired government land leases to be extended • Rules will also cover leases that will expire by 2030 • Residential and commercial properties will pay new ground rent of 2% of the market value New rules to allow 50-year extension of government land leases expiring by 2030 KURT SANSONE MALTA international Haley Buge- ja has joined Italian Serie A football team Inter on a three-year contract, the club announced yesterday. Bugeja was transferred to Inter Mi- lan by American side Orlando Pride for an undisclosed fee. The 19-year-old Maltese forward will start pre-season training with Inter on 24 July. It is unclear whether she will be donning her favourite number 7 shirt. The deal was sealed a couple of weeks ago but only officially an- nounced by the Italian club on Tues- day. This will be Bugeja's second return to Italy, having started her interna- tional career at the age of 16 with Serie A club Sassuolo before moving to the US, where she played for one season with Orlando Pride. Bugeja started playing football in the Maltese league with Mgarr Unit- ed before she made the move abroad. Bugeja has had 18 appearances with the Malta national female foot- ball team, scoring 10 goals. This latest move is arguably one of the highest profile transfers involv- ing a Maltese female footballer. Bugeja is represented by S Pro Management Ltd, a Maltese football agency. Bugeja to start pre-season training with Inter on 24 July Inter Milan announced Bugeja's signing on Tuesday