The Estate Agents Section (EAS) within the Malta Developers Association has expressed support for initiatives aimed at helping first-time buyers enter the property market, while warning that any government-led affordable housing schemes involving state-owned land must be managed transparently and competitively.

In a statement, Michael Bonello, CEO of Alliance Real Estate Group and Head of the EAS, described housing affordability as “an important national priority” and said the association has regularly raised the issue with the authorities.

Bonello said that while the government is proposing to pass land to certain developers for housing projects, such allocations should avoid “creating distortions in the market or unintended incentives that could undermine fairness and transparency.”

“Government-owned land should be managed transparently, and in a manner that safeguards public trust and ensures the best possible outcome for the market and the tax-paying public,” he said, noting that land costs typically represent around half of a property’s final price, making the allocation process a critical factor in affordability.

The EAS’s position is that, ideally, the government should develop such land itself and sell the units directly. However, if private developers are involved, Bonello stressed that the process should be conducted through a public tender or similar transparent mechanism, open to all interested parties, including those who have already expressed interest.

“Government-owned land is a national asset, and it is essential that it is allocated in a manner that serves the public interest, promotes healthy competition, and supports long-term market stability,” he said.

The statement concluded that the real estate agents represented in the EAS are ready to work with government and stakeholders to develop “sustainable, transparent solutions” that balance market realities with social needs.