Central Malta · Investment Guide
Investing in Sliema
One of Malta’s deepest property markets: steady rental demand from professionals and expats, a broad pool of resale buyers, and a seafront address that holds its value.
322New homes approved, Q1 2026
40Promise of sale, Jun 2026
20Final deeds of sale, Jun 2026
55Busiest month for sales, Dec 2025
The case
Why investors buy in Sliema
Sliema combines the two things a property investor wants most in Malta: reliable rental demand and liquidity on exit. Its seafront location, walkability and concentration of offices, shops and schools keep it near the top of tenants’ and buyers’ lists all year round.
The tenant pool is broad and stable, professionals, relocating expats and remote workers who want to live near the sea without a car. That depth of demand supports steady occupancy and limits void periods compared with quieter towns.
On resale, the scarcity of land and Sliema’s enduring appeal mean well-chosen apartments hold their value and tend to sell quickly. Seafront and high-floor units command the strongest premiums, while homes to modernise leave room to add value.
Find me an investment in SliemaA few questions, then we do the looking.
The numbers
Market activity in Sliema
Final deeds of sale
Completed sales in Sliema have ranged from 20 to 55 a month since 2024. The past twelve months carried 462 in total, level with the 462 recorded in the twelve months before that.
Promise of sale agreements
Promise of sale agreements, the deals in progress ahead of a deed, have ranged from 22 to 59 a month. The past twelve months carried 491, up from 468 in the twelve months before that.
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential property transactions.
The supply pipeline
How Sliema compares
Sliema led every locality in Malta for approved new dwellings this quarter, with 322. That is one of the largest approved pipelines in the country, and it is supply on its way to weigh against demand.
Sliema
322
St Paul's Bay
171
Birkirkara
154
Mosta
149
Qormi
126
Msida
120
Marsaskala
112
Fgura
111
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential building permits, Q1 2026.
Rental demand
Where the tenants are
Sliema holds 6.96% of all active residential rent contracts in Malta, the 2nd-highest of any locality, a sign of how deep the tenant pool already is here.
St Paul's Bay
13.76%
Sliema
6.96%
Msida
6.03%
Marsaskala
4.46%
St Julian's
4.4%
Birkirkara
4.25%
Gżira
4.17%
Swieqi
3.45%
Source: Housing Authority (Malta), Malta Rent Calculator, H1 2026. Reconstructed from the published tool's own chart, not a downloadable table - see data/README.md.
Run the numbers
What it costs to buy in Sliema
Enter a price and see the deposit, stamp duty and notary costs a Maltese purchase actually carries.
€
25%
The regulatory minimum for this buyer type is 20% - adjust the slider to match your own lender's terms.
Deposit€75,00025%
Stamp duty€15,0005% of the price
Notary fees€3,000-€10,500
Monthly repayment€1,07430-yr term at 4%
Cash to complete€93,000 -€100,500
Open the full finance calculator →Indicative figures based on standard Malta rates and a 30-year term at 4% - not a mortgage offer or financial advice. For income-based affordability, joint applicants and a shareable scenario, use the full finance calculator.
Buy-to-let
Investment-grade homes in Sliema
Homes on the market now that suit a rental or resale strategy.
Costs & incentives
Tax, costs and residency
The rules and schemes that shape the return on a Maltese property investment.
Rental income tax
Rental income can be taxed at a flat 15% final withholding rate in Malta, a simple and competitive regime for landlords.
Residency by investment
Buying or leasing property can form part of Malta’s residency routes for non-EU investors, alongside the other requirements.
Short-let licensing
Short-term holiday letting is possible but licensed and regulated. Long-let is the simpler route for most investors.
Good to know
Investing in Sliema, answered
Is Sliema a good buy-to-let?
It is one of the most dependable rental markets in Malta, with broad, year-round tenant demand and short void periods. Sliema accounts for 6.96% of Malta’s active residential rent contracts.
How active is the Sliema property market?
Between January 2024 and June 2026 the National Statistics Office recorded 1122 final deeds of sale and 1216 promise of sale agreements in Sliema, a monthly range of 20 to 55 completed sales. The busiest month in that window was Dec 2025, with 55.
Is much new build coming to Sliema?
322 new dwellings were approved in Sliema in the first quarter of 2026, 1st of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. That is among the heaviest new-build pipelines in Malta, so expect competition from new stock.
Can foreigners buy property in Sliema?
Yes. Non-residents can buy in Malta, usually through an Acquisition of Immovable Property permit, though many apartments in designated areas are exempt and Special Designated Areas carry no restriction at all. We can confirm the position for any specific property in Sliema.
What are the total costs of buying?
As a rule of thumb, budget around 5% stamp duty plus notary fees, searches and any agency or legal fees. Off-plan and first-time purchases may qualify for reduced duty, so check the grants and schemes for the reliefs that currently apply. The calculator above works the figures through for a given price.