Use this glossary alongside our guides — each entry links to the page where the subject is explained in full.
Buying and selling
- Konvenju (promise of sale)
- The preliminary agreement between buyer and seller, signed before a notary and registered with the tax authorities. It sets the price, conditions and deadline for the final deed. See the buying process.
- Final deed (kuntratt)
- The notarial contract that transfers ownership. The balance of the price, stamp duty and the seller’s property transfer tax are settled on the deed.
- Notary (nutar)
- A public officer who researches title, drafts and publishes the deeds, and collects duty and tax on behalf of the state.
- Perit
- A warranted architect and civil engineer. Buyers instruct a perit to survey a property and check planning compliance; banks use one for valuations.
- Hypothec
- A registered charge over property securing a debt — typically a bank loan. The notary’s searches reveal existing hypothecs, which are cleared on the final deed.
- Ċens (ground rent)
- A historic annual payment to the owner of the land on which some properties stand. The notary identifies any ċens and whether it can be redeemed.
- Airspace
- The right to build above a property, subject to planning permission. Whether a top-floor apartment includes the airspace can make a big difference to value.
- Condominium
- The legal regime for shared buildings. An administrator manages common parts and collects owners’ contributions.
Property types
- Apartment
- A unit in a block, from studios to large family apartments.
- Penthouse
- The top-floor unit, usually with a large terrace and, often, the best views.
- Maisonette
- A self-contained home with its own street door, on the ground or first floor of a small block.
- Townhouse / terraced house
- A house in a terrace, often with a back yard and roof terrace.
- House of character
- An older house with traditional features — stone arches, timber beams, patterned tiles, a central courtyard. See buying a house of character.
- Palazzo
- A historic townhouse or mansion, often in Valletta, Mdina or the old village cores.
- Farmhouse
- A traditional rural house, often restored with a pool — found in Malta’s countryside villages.
- Shell form, semi-finished, finished
- Stages of completion for new-build property: structure only; partly finished; ready to move into.
Permits, areas and authorities
- AIP permit
- The Acquisition of Immovable Property permit that non-EU buyers — and some EU buyers of a second home — need to buy outside a Special Designated Area. See the AIP permit.
- SDA (Special Designated Area)
- A development where foreign buyers buy on the same terms as Maltese buyers — no AIP permit, no limit on the number of properties, freedom to let. See SDAs.
- UCA (Urban Conservation Area)
- A historic core protected by planning policy. Incentives have been offered for buying and restoring property in UCAs. See UCA incentives.
- Planning Authority
- The body that grants development permits. Every part of a property should be covered by a permit.
- Housing Authority
- The authority with which residential leases must be registered.
- ARMS Ltd
- The company that bills electricity and water. See utilities in Malta.
- EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
- A certificate rating a building’s energy efficiency, required when a property is sold or let.
- MTA (Malta Tourism Authority)
- Licenses short-let holiday accommodation. See short-let licensing.
- MTCA
- The Malta Tax and Customs Administration.
- Identità
- The agency that registers EU residents and issues residence documents. See EU citizens moving to Malta.
- Residency Malta
- The agency that administers the MPRP and the Nomad Residence Permit.
Tax
- Duty on documents (stamp duty)
- The tax a buyer pays on acquiring property — 5% as standard, with reliefs for some buyers. See stamp duty in Malta.
- Property transfer tax
- The seller’s final tax on a sale — 8% as standard. See property transfer tax.
- Causa mortis declaration
- The notarial declaration made after a death, on which duty on inherited property is paid. See inheriting property in Malta.
- Non-dom
- A person resident but not domiciled in Malta, taxed on Maltese income and on foreign income remitted to Malta. See non-dom tax.
- Remittance basis
- The principle that foreign income is taxed only when it is brought into Malta.
- Authorised registered mandatary
- A licensed professional through whom applications for the GRP and Retirement Programme are submitted.
Residence programmes
- MPRP
- The Malta Permanent Residence Programme. See the MPRP guide.
- GRP
- The Global Residence Programme — a special tax status for non-EU nationals. See the GRP.
- MRP
- The Malta Retirement Programme. See the Retirement Programme.
- Nomad Residence Permit
- A permit for non-EU remote workers. See the Nomad Residence Permit.
