Sannat, Żebbuġ, Qala see surge in rentals

Gozo has seen a surge in rental contracts registered with the Housing Authority, almost tripling from 2,760 in 2020 to 7,478 in 2023.

The increase was most notable in Sannat (+200 per cent), Żebbuġ, which includes the seaside resort of Marsalforn (+175 per cent), and Qala (+170 per cent).

Despite the increase in Sannat, the rental market remains small, with under 200 active contracts.

Żebbuġ stands out as an outlier, with over 1,000 rentals. Victoria, in second place, has just over 600, while Għajnsielem, Munxar (including Xlendi) and Xagħra having just over 400 each. These five localities account for around 68 per cent of all rental contracts registered in Gozo.

Except for Għarb, Fontana, San Lawrenz and Għasri, all localities in Gozo have seen active registered contracts more than double since 2020.

The figures emerge from a report by the Gozo Regional Development Authority and the Housing Authority about the residential rental market in Gozo.

The report notes that only fewer than one in ten rentals in Gozo are higher than €1,000 a month, while slightly more than half are lower than €700 a month.

“In general, rents in Gozo are cheaper than in Malta. For instance, around 83 per cent of contracts in Gozo were lower than €899 compared to just 51 per cent in Malta. The share of contracts in excess of €1,000 per month in Gozo and Malta stood at nine per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.”

The lowest rents in Gozo are found in Munxar, where the Xlendi resort area has seen extensive development.

Although rents in Gozo remain cheap by Maltese standards, they have increased at a faster rate (5.9 per cent per annum) than those on the main island (3.4 per cent per annum).

The report also notes that rental properties make up nearly 30 per cent of the housing stock in Żebbuġ, 20 per cent in Munxar, and 17 per cent in Għajnsielem.

The report cites a recent study in noting that much of the demand for rentals comes from foreign workers – only 10 per cent of persons living in registered rental accommodation in Gozo are Maltese citizens.