Selling Property in Malta

Selling property in Malta follows the same legal framework as buying - a promise of sale followed by a notarial final deed - but with different costs and obligations falling on the seller.

Agent commission

Estate agency commission in Malta is paid by the seller, not the buyer. The standard rate is 5% of the sale price, though a sole agency agreement - listing with one agent exclusively - commonly carries a lower rate, around 3.5%.

The process

1. List and agree a price, typically through an agent.
2. Sign the promise of sale with the buyer, usually receiving a 10% deposit, registered with the Commissioner for Revenue.
3. Title and compliance checks - the notary verifies your title is clean and marketable; see Property Due Diligence Checklist for what this covers, since a seller with unresolved issues (undocumented ground rent, planning irregularities, undivided shares with other family members) can significantly delay completion.
4. Sign the final deed, at which point the notary settles your agent’s commission, any outstanding mortgage on the property, and the final withholding tax directly from the proceeds, before releasing the balance to you.

What you pay

• Agent commission: 5% (or ~3.5% for sole agency), deducted from proceeds at completion.
• Final withholding tax: generally 8% of the transfer value, with several reduced rates and exemptions depending on circumstances - see the Final Withholding Tax glossary entry for the full detail.
• Any outstanding mortgage on the property is settled directly with your bank from the sale proceeds.

Sellers do not pay stamp duty - that’s a buyer-side cost, covered in Stamp Duty & Buying Costs.

Timeline

A realistic timeline from accepted offer to keys handed over is 3 to 4 months, driven mainly by the notary’s title and compliance searches and, where relevant, the buyer’s mortgage or AIP permit conditions.