Homebuyer

Social Loan Scheme

Issued by Housing Authority

A grant of up to €167 per month toward a home loan, for low-income earners.

Up to €167/month toward your home loan repayments

Apply on the official site

You’ll be taken to the scheme’s official page.

Overview

The Social Loan Scheme (branded "HomeAssist Loans") helps low-income earners who can't purchase a home or secure a mortgage on their own. It runs through a partnership between the Housing Authority, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, and two participating banks — Bank of Valletta and APS Bank — each of which have their own version of the scheme's terms. This summary is verified against the Bank of Valletta version; the APS Bank version may differ slightly in its mechanics.

Who This Is For

  • Personal Accommodation Purchase:Yes.
  • Property Investment Purchase:No.

Eligibility

Applicants need to be 18 or older, Maltese citizens, in full-time employment, and hold no other immovable property. Assets can't exceed €23,300, and annual income is capped depending on household type: €20,232.36 for single persons, €21,232.36 for single parents, and €22,232.36 for couples, disabled individuals, or families with a disabled member. Overtime pay, In-Work Benefit, and Tapered Unemployment Assistance are excluded when calculating income.

What It Offers

The participating bank provides a loan of up to €120,000, covering a property purchase and finishing costs totalling no more than €140,000 — the loan can also cover the deposit where applicable. On top of that, the Housing Authority pays a monthly subsidy of up to €167 directly toward the loan repayment, and separately covers notarial and bank processing fees (search fees excluded).

The exact annual subsidy depends on household composition: €1,600 for a single person (€1,725 if disabled), €1,900 for a single parent (€2,025 if disabled), and €2,000 for a couple (rising to €2,125 for a disabled couple, a couple with five or more household members, or €2,300 for a couple with fostered children). Applicants who grew up in care or foster placements can receive double their entitled subsidy, up to €3,200 a year, until they turn 28.

Applying

The property must be occupied within six months of the deed if finished, or within two years if bought in shell form, and used solely as the applicant's own residence. The first subsidy payment lands once the applicant makes their first loan repayment — if they were already receiving a Housing Authority rent subsidy, that stops as soon as this one starts. Every two years, the Authority carries out a full means test on income and assets (excluding the value of the property itself); failing to still qualify at that point ends the subsidy.

How to Apply

Applications go through the Housing Authority in coordination with the chosen participating bank (BOV or APS), via the Housing Authority's website or its offices in Floriana or Victoria, Gozo. The published terms don't specify a separate administrative fee for this scheme, unlike several of the Authority's other schemes.

What Can End or Reduce It

Renting out or transferring the property without written consent from both the bank and the Authority isn't permitted while the subsidy is running. Giving false information forfeits the subsidy immediately and can be reported to the relevant investigative authority. Falling outside the income/asset thresholds at the two-yearly review also ends it. Couples who separate, divorce, or dissolve a civil union must notify the Authority within 30 days — the subsidy may be revised, though loan repayments (with interest) must continue in the meantime. Non-compliance with the scheme's conditions carries a penalty of €10 per week until resolved.

Status

The published terms don't include the standard one-year Gazette renewal clause seen in most other Housing Authority schemes — only that amendments can be made via Gazette notice in agreement with the participating bank. It appears to be an ongoing scheme rather than one with a fixed renewal cycle, but this is worth confirming directly with the Housing Authority.

Source & Verification

This summary draws on the Housing Authority's Social Loan Scheme page and the Bank of Valletta version of its Terms & Conditions, cross-checked clause by clause and last verified on 19 July 2026. A separate APS Bank version of the terms also exists and hasn't been individually verified here.

  • Scheme page: https://housingauthority.gov.mt/scheme/social-loan-scheme/
  • Terms & Conditions, BOV version (PDF): https://housingauthority.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SOL-BOV-Conditions-English-2026.pdf

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general awareness only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Terms, amounts, and eligibility criteria can change — always confirm current details directly with the Housing Authority before applying.