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Costs & Fees

A transparent breakdown of every cost involved in buying or renting property in Malta.

Costs When Buying

CostAmountPaid By
Stamp Duty5% of purchase priceBuyer
Notary Fees1–2.5% of purchase priceBuyer (shared)
Agent Commission~3.5% + 18% VAT (typically split: 1% buyer, 2.5% seller)Buyer & Seller
AIP Permit (non-EU)~€233 application feeBuyer
Bank Valuation€200–€500Buyer
Architect Report€300–€600 (optional)Buyer

Example: Buying a €300,000 Apartment

Purchase Price€300,000
Stamp Duty (5%)€15,000
Notary Fees (~1.5%)€4,500
Agent Fee (1% buyer share + VAT)€3,540
Total Cost to Buyer€323,040

Stamp Duty Details

Stamp duty in Malta is 5% of the purchase price. It is paid in two stages:

  • 1% at the time of signing the Promise of Sale (Konvenju)
  • 4% at the time of the Final Deed

First-time buyer relief: First-time buyers may benefit from a reduced rate or exemption on the first €200,000 of the property value (subject to government schemes in effect at the time of purchase).

Costs When Renting

CostAmountWhen
Security Deposit1 month's rentAt signing
First Month's Rent1 month's rentAt signing
Agent FeeHalf month's rent + VATAt signing
Contract RegistrationFree (Housing Authority)Within 10 days

Example: Renting at €1,000/month

First Month's Rent€1,000
Security Deposit€1,000
Agent Fee (half month + 18% VAT)€590
Total Upfront Cost€2,590
What Does "Direct to Owner" Mean?

When a property on HomeLink is marked as Direct to Owner, it means the property is listed directly by the owner — not through an agent or agency.

What you save:

  • Buying: No agent commission (~1% of purchase price + VAT saved for the buyer)
  • Renting:No agent fee (~half month's rent + VAT saved)

You deal directly with the property owner for viewings, negotiations, and contracts. You may still want to use a notary for the legal paperwork when buying.

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