One thing that you just can't skip

When you are renting out your place in Malta there’s one step you can’t skip — registering your lease with the Housing Authority. It’s quick, fully online, and makes your contract legally valid.

Here’s exactly how to do it in 2025, what you’ll need, and what’s new in the rules described step by step.

Who must register (and when)

  • Applies to: All private residential leases signed after 1 Jan 2020 where the property is used as a primary residence,
  • Deadline: 10 days (According to Act XX of 2024, the registration period for residential leases has been extended from 10 to 30 days from commencement. The further regulation states that this applies retroactively. However, some sources note that the Minister must still fix the formal date of effect, so landlords should act promptly and treat the 10-day period as potentially still enforced until full implementation is confirmed. Moreover, on the official website https://rentregistration.mt/ you can still find information about 10-days deadline and not 30 one ‘Late Registration Fee applies if the registration of the private residential lease contract is not registered within 10 days from the commencement of the lease contract.’)
  • Late fee: €120 for late registration (effective 1 September 2025),
  • Renewals: Must be re-registered (online “express renewal” available). Typical renewal fee is €5,

Note: The obligation to register is on the lessor (landlord) and is framed as a legal obligation under the amended law.

What you need before you start

A written lease that includes all mandatory clauses (property, use, term, renewal method, rent & payment method, deposit, inventory). Contracts lacking these are non-registrable,

Inventory with photos (now explicitly accepted — even for unfurnished units to document condition),

Number of residents allowed in the dwelling (now mandatory to declare. Housing Authority enforces caps like max 2 residents/bedroom up to 10 total, with extra bathroom rules for larger homes),

Digital copies to upload: signed lease (PDF), inventory photos, parties’ ID details.

Where and how to register (step-by-step)

Go to the Housing Authority’s Rent Registration portal,

Log in

  • use Maltese eID; or
  • Create a Housing Authority account (for foreigners/companies).

Enter contract details

  • Address (If the address isn’t listed in Housing Authority finder, HA notes a dedicated support email and no fine if delays are on HA’s side),
  • Lease type (whole unit / shared space), start & end dates, rent, deposit (if any) and more information if needed.

Upload documents

  • Signed lease (PDF),
  • Photo-inventory showing condition of unit & movables.

Declare residents cap and list tenants/residents.

Pay the fee and submit. Typical fees published by Housing Authority include €10 normal registration, €5 renewal, €120 late,

Confirmation: All parties receive automated email confirmation once approved (useful for Identità address matters).

Important 2024–2025 legal updates landlords should know

  • 10-day registration window (soon to be updated to 30 days) + online-only process,
  • Inventory standard tightened — photo-based inventory is expected and required even if “unfurnished” to record condition,
  • Occupancy caps & habitability: declare the number of residents; HA won’t accept registrations exceeding caps,
  • Admin changes on the portal: ability to add/substitute/remove lessees,
  • Late registration enforcement: €120 late fee introduced from 1 September 2025.

Common mistakes that trigger rejections (and how to avoid them)

Missing mandatory clauses (renewal method, payment method, deposit field, inventory). Use the Housing Authority model contracts or attach the Standard Form.

No photo-inventory or “text-only” lists. Upload clear photos with short captions.

Residents not declared/exceeding occupancy cap. Specify the number up-front per the new rules.

Wrong login method for foreign owners. If you have no Maltese eID, create an Housing Authority account.

Late submission (>10 days). From 1 Sept ember 2025 there’s a €120 late fee.

Fees & timelines — at a glance

  • Register a new lease: typically €10 (HA historic schedule). Register within 30 days of start.
  • Renewal: €5 (re-registration required).
  • Late registration: €120 late fee (in force from 1 Sept 2025).

“There are so many new forms, documents, and rules — it’s getting impossible to keep up”

We understand that. That’s why in 2026 Letify plans to launch new landlord tools — including automatic lease generation, digital inventory documents with photos, and many more features designed to make renting simple, transparent, and compliant.