Glossary

Shell Form (Bare Shell)

A new property sold as a structural shell only - no internal walls, flooring, kitchen or bathroom fittings - for the buyer to finish.

Shell form (or bare shell) describes a new-build property sold at an early finishing stage - structural walls, roof and often the external envelope in place, but without internal partitions, flooring, a kitchen, bathroom fittings, or electrical/plumbing finishes. Buyers finish the property themselves, which can lower the purchase price but adds a further fit-out budget and timeline before it’s habitable. This is distinct from finished or turnkey properties, which are move-in ready.

See Buying Off-Plan Property in Malta for how shell-form finishing typically fits into an off-plan purchase.