Government launches land registration system reform, aiming for all land to be registered by 2035
Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi launched the National Strategy for the reform of the country's land registration system for public consultation, with the aim of having all Maltese territories registered by the year 2035.Zrinzo Azzopardi spoke
Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi launched the National Strategy for the reform of the country's land registration system for public consultation, with the aim of having all Maltese territories registered by the year 2035.
Zrinzo Azzopardi spoke at a press conference on Monday, during which he said that there is the need for a "re-learning" exercise on how land registration can be done more efficiently.
The public consultation document includes 18 government recommendations to reform, update and strengthen the Land registry, to provide more certainty, clarity and efficiency, including in the transfer of properties.
"This change is more than overdue," Zrinzo Azzopardi said, adding that during the initial consultation with stakeholders when devising the public consultation document, professionals in the sector have said that there is the need for a change on how properties are registered, and how they are defined.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the wide public consultation, which is open as from today, till 28 February 2025, aims to arrive to the destination that 10 years from now, in 2035, obligatory registration of the entire country is achieved.
The land registration law, which was first introduced in the 80s, needs updating given the increases in transactions, number of owners and properties, as compared to the past, Zrinzo Azzopardi said.
"We need a more efficient and effective system, so that even in property transfers and the way a property is identified today is more representative of today's realities," he said.
He said that government has already started the process of digitalising the land registration system, and the year 2035 was chosen to give enough time so that there are no "shocks" to the system, have a digitalised land registry, and address legislative issues.
Zrinzo Azzopardi also announced a "groundbreaking" mechanism which will be introduced in the law after the consultation period process.
This would be a new arbitration mechanism to bring parties together in case of a dispute on properties, with the aim of reducing court proceedings.
"This is fundamental as the volume of registration will be larger and better, and so the risk for these disputes can increase. We must ensure efficiency where there is disagreement," he said.
Zrinzo Azzopardi said that more information must be given to the general public, as well as all stakeholders involved in the consultation process, on how the system will change, so that everyone understands the process.
Government will be collaborating with all those involved as there is the need for a "wide consensus," for this reform to move forward, he said.
He said that this process must lead to the point where the Land Registration Agency will be issuing a property "logbook," just as is done for cars, certifying the property, and benefiting the owner and the system, leading to a more efficient process on how property is administered in the country.
"This reform must be done with thought, and terms which have been agreed to beforehand, to let the system update itself and understand everything about this change, for the benefit of all the families whose property is their largest investment," Zrinzo Azzopardi said.
Executive Head of the Land Registration Agency Michelle Piccinino briefly explained the 18 recommendations, saying that the new system would give titles to properties offering certainty, and reducing incidents of fraud.
"The property market activity is totally different today than when the law was introduced. This must be updated by addressing trends in the property market, continuing to safeguard property titles and rights, and facilitate transactions and property transfers," Piccinino said.
She said that many have complained to the agency about how difficult it has become to transfer properties, and the new system will support efficiency with regards to this.
Piccinino said that notaties, architects, banks, the buyers, sellers and developers, as well as the agency, will enjoy more accessibility and transparency with a new digitalised land registration system.
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