Apartments in Malta

An apartment is a self-contained unit within a multi-unit block, reached through a shared entrance, stairwell or lift - the feature that distinguishes it from a maisonette’s private street-level door. Per NSO’s 2021 Census, flats and penthouses together account for over half of Malta’s main residential dwellings, making this the country’s dominant and most liquid property type.

Blocks range from walk-ups to towers

Older apartment blocks - common across Sliema, Gżira, St Julian’s and Msida - are typically 3-4 storey walk-ups. Newer developments run much higher: towers such as Townsquare in Sliema and Metropolis in Gżira have been approved at 28 and 33 storeys respectively, reflecting local plans that permit high-density building in these areas. Typical unit sizes run roughly 60-120 sqm for a 2-3 bedroom apartment, with penthouse units - a distinct sub-category covered in its own guide - larger and more expensive.

Shared parts are governed by the Condominium Act

Common parts - stairwell, lobby, lift, roof and airspace above the block, and any shared courtyard - are co-owned by all unit owners (“condomini”) in undivided shares, presumed equal unless the deed says otherwise, under the Condominium Act (Chapter 398). Once a block has four or more condomini, appointing a registered administrator becomes mandatory; the administrator apportions maintenance costs and enforces the condominium’s rules. Some condominium deeds contain restrictive covenants - including outright bans on short-let/tourist letting - which no Malta Tourism Authority licence can override; changing such a clause needs a supermajority of the other owners. Older blocks can still carry ground rent, though this is now mainly a resale-market feature rather than something found in new developments.

Where apartments concentrate

Apartment stock is heaviest in Sliema, St Julian’s and Gżira, plus the Tigné Point and Portomaso developments, driven by land scarcity and consistently strong long-term rental demand from professionals working locally.

Buying, renting and letting

Apartments carry lower entry prices than most other property types and the largest resale and rental pool, at the cost of less privacy and dependence on the block’s administrator for shared maintenance. Letting an apartment short-term requires an MTA licence - proof of planning compliance, insurance covering common parts, and a contactable operator - but a condominium deed banning tourist letting is enforceable regardless of licence, so check the deed before assuming a short-let strategy is viable. See Renting Out Property in Malta for the current registration and licensing requirements.