New Lands Authority scheme for contract changes of government-transferred property

A new scheme has been launched by the Lands Authority through which the reasons are being updated for changes or removal of conditions made when property has been transferred from the government, the Lands Authority, or ecclesiastical entities.

Details of this scheme were issued through Legal Notice No. 196, the Ministry for Lands and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme said.

Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi spoke about the reasons why there was a need for a change to be enacted, as the Legal Notice used to dictate that the change or removal of conditions from the original contracts was limited only to changes in the number of residences or garages.

The Minister continued that this new scheme is necessary so that citizens, families, and the general public have more clarity about Lands Authority processes. He said that through this scheme, it is now clear how the process is to be operated when a citizen makes requests of this kind. He added that requests of this kind are being structured in a scheme to make it clear how things should be done.

The Ministry said that the Legal Notice is now giving the Lands Authority the ability to decide whether the proposed change is considered to be of minor, medium, or major importance, and from this decision, the fees and administrative penalties to be paid will be established. It said that to arrive at this decision, the Lands Authority will take into consideration what impact the change or removal of a condition will have on the free and fair value of the property which has been transferred. It added that the Legal Notice includes a complete schedule of payments to be made in each category.

Zrinzo Azzopardi said that an example of cases where the Lands Authority will be able to consider applications for the change or removal of conditions in contracts includes changes in the use of a property. Regarding what sort of cases are being excluded from this scheme, he said that exclusions include a change in the title, a change to the date of the census review, a change in the amount of census payments, and a change in the term of when the census expires.

The Ministry said that changing or removing conditions will not be possible when a property has been obtained by parliamentary resolution, by tender, by tender procedure, or by auction.

Lands Authority CEO Robert Vella said that this scheme will allow the Lands Authority to be able to process requests for solutions to old problems linked with conditions in contracts that were included in old times and are no longer relevant today.

Lands Authority Chairperson Dr John Vassallo and Lands Permanent Secretary Carlos Tabone were also present for the news conference.