Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/318021
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 MAY 2014 8 News JAMES DEBONO ONE in every five houses in Sliema is listed in the census as a "second- ary home" which is vacant for most of the year but is not considered to be a holiday dwelling. This category may include proper- ties which are rented on an irregular basis, properties kept by their own- ers as a future investment or to be passed on to children on their ma- turity. In Ghasri in Gozo, the percent- age of secondary homes one every three homes has a secondary use. In all of Gozo, 17% of all dwellings are listed in this category, a rate which is far higher than the national mean of 8%. The census shows that 17,398 dwellings in Malta have a secondary use for their owners. This suggests a high level of multi- ple property ownership and property hoarding. This gives a new twist to the vacant property debate. The census puts the total number of dwellings vacant for most of the year amounts to 71,080 an increase of 36% over 2005 figures. But while 41,232 dwellings are va- cant all year round, 12,450 are listed as holiday home, 17,398 are listed as having a "secondary use". The official statistics contradict a claim made by the Malta Developers Association in October 2013, that half of vacant dwellings are actually holiday homes. In fact, holiday homes have only increased from 10,000 in 2005 to 12,450 now. But it substantiates the claim that a large number of these homes are not readily available on the market. The census also indicates that old- er historical localities like Valletta, Vittoriosa and Victoria have the largest number of properties which are vacant all year round. Census finds 17,398 'secondary homes' If you receive the screening kit, use it and return it Colorectal cancer is preventable if stopped before it starts For more information: Please phone the National Screening Centre on 21227470/1 Facebook Malta National Health Screening Programme Website www.bowelscreening.gov.mt One fifth of houses in Sliema used as a secondary residence Localities with highest % of secondary homes (dwellings which are not used as holiday homes but are not available on the market) Ghasri (Gozo) 32.3 Zebbug (Gozo) 29.8 San Lawrenz (Gozo) 23.4 Sliema 22.4 Gharb (Gozo) 19.8 St Julian's 19 St Paul's Bay 18.5 Xaghra (Gozo) 18.4 Ghajnsielem (Gozo) 16.7 Msida, Nadur (Gozo) 12.3 Gzira 12 Top 10 localities with highest number of holiday homes Number Saint Paul's Bay 4,825 Zebbug (Gozo) 1,603 Mellieha 1,530 Marsaskala 978 B'Bugia 537 Muxar (Gozo) 376 Xghajra 285 Xaghra (Gozo) 274 Sliema 205 St Julian's 158 Localities with highest % of households owning a holiday home elsewhere % of occupied households Victoria (Gozo) 26.5 Fontana (Gozo) 21.8 Attard 17.2 Balzan 15.8 Iklin 14.4 Mdina 14.4 Gharb (Gozo) 14.3 Kercem (Gozo) 14 Ghasri (Gozo) 13.3 Zebbug (Malta) 12 Localities with sharpest increase in vacant dwellings since 2005: San Lawrenz (Gozo) 98.3 Attard 93.9 Luqa 91.2 Swieqi 88.4 Dingli 86.1 Gharghur 83.6 Naxxar 76.7 Fgura 75.8 Zabbar 74 Sannat (Gozo) 63.8 Top ten localities with highest % of completely vacant dwellings (holiday homes and seasonal/ secondary homes excluded) Fontana (Gozo) 35.7 Valletta 32.3 Victoria (Gozo) 32.1 Ghajnsielem (Gozo) 28.3 Nadur (Gozo) 27.8 Luqa 27 Vittoriosa 26.2 Mdina 25.7 Gharb (Gozo) 25.2 Xghajra 24.4