The Team

Chapter 573 of the Laws of Malta provides the legal framework through which the Government, acting through the Lands Authority, may acquire private property either by absolute purchase or by taking possession and use of the property for a period not exceeding ten years, for a public purpose. In everyday language, this is the legislation most people are referring to when they say "ħadli l-art il-Gvern" ("the Government took my land"). Whether the acquisition is for a road, pub

In Malta, it is common for property to be owned jointly by several persons, particularly following an inheritance. This can create practical difficulties — especially where some co-owners wish to sell, but others refuse, delay, or simply cannot be traced. In such cases, Article 495A of the Civil Code provides a solution. This provision allows the court to authorise the sale of co-owned property even where not all co-owners agree, provided the legal requirements are satisfied

Protected residential leases in Malta, commonly referred to as pre-1995 leases, refer to residential leases that came into force before 1 st June 1995 and which still enjoy statutory protection today. Although frequently grouped together, they fall into two distinct legal categories. The first category consists of leases that were leases from the very beginning . These fall under Chapter 69 of the Laws of Malta. The second category relates to those leases regulated by Chapte