Phoenix

Phoenix is a boutique estate agency based in Tas-Sliema, on the northern harbour side of Malta, selling and letting homes for local owners, overseas investors and people moving to the islands. Its office is at 40 Triq Guze' Howard, a short walk from the Sliema seafront and its shops, cafes and ferry points. Unlike agencies that operate as a loose network of franchised branches, Phoenix keeps its whole sales team under one roof and runs every listing through one central management system.

For a UK reader that has a practical meaning: whichever agent you speak to, you should be working from the same information and the same standards. If you are still comparing agencies, our directory of estate agents in Malta puts the main names side by side, and you can ask Phoenix a question through the enquiry form on this page.

A boutique agency with a clear philosophy

Phoenix presents itself as a specialist rather than a volume seller. The idea is that an agent should concentrate on the best property available in each area and at each price point, rather than pushing whatever happens to be on the books. The agency still handles hundreds of listings, but its agents are trained to recommend the homes they consider most suitable for a particular purpose, whether that is a first home, a family home, a second home or a rental investment.

The values the agency works to are integrity, professionalism, innovation, collaboration and passion. In everyday terms that means accurate information and punctuality, a willingness to use social media, mobile technology and AI tools to reach buyers, and close working with other professionals such as notaries and banks so the end result is smooth for the client. The agents have been through the same worries as their clients when buying a first property or looking for a rental investment, which shapes the reassuring, step by step tone of its service.

The sales side is led by Sales Manager Thomas Farrugia, working with sales agents including Dragan Čerketa and Neil Benameur. Thomas and the agents are the people most buyers deal with first.

Buying a home through Phoenix

Phoenix concentrates mainly on residential sales. The property categories on its search tools cover apartments, studios and blocks of apartments, penthouses, maisonettes, townhouses and terraced houses, houses of character, palazzi, farmhouses, bungalows and villas, as well as plots, sites and land. There are also garages, car spaces and even boathouses on the list. Buyers can filter by locality, price, bedrooms and bathrooms, and the agency also keeps a set of exclusive properties.

A British buyer will want to know what the process looks like. Phoenix guides clients through the standard Maltese sequence: viewing, agreeing a price, signing the promise of sale known as the konvenju in front of a notary, and then the final deed. A promise of sale normally runs for at least six months when a bank loan is involved, and can be shorter when no third party is financing the purchase, because time is needed for notarial searches and for the bank's sanction letter. The agent will also explain what the promise of sale should contain, including the conditions imposed by a developer or an original landowner, and the payment terms.

Costs are explained up front. Buyers should expect stamp duty, notarial fees, searches and registration fees, plus bank administration charges where a mortgage is arranged. Capital gains tax can apply to the seller, and a seller may be exempt where the property was their sole residence for at least three years. A limited company can also buy property in Malta, which matters for investors. For your own tax position as a UK resident, read our guide to Malta tax for UK nationals and take professional advice. The agency does not charge buyers an agency fee: its commission is paid by the vendor.

One point British buyers often meet for the first time is ground rent, known as emphyteusis or cens. Where a property is acquired on that basis the owner pays an annual sum and must follow the conditions of the contract. Ground rents can be perpetual or temporary, revisable or non-revisable, and held privately or by the government. Phoenix points buyers to a notary to understand how any ground rent can be redeemed.

Renting through the letting team

The letting team focuses on long lets. A let of six months or more counts as a long let, and most are agreed for a minimum of twelve months, with terms varying property by property. The agency concentrates on residential long lets rather than commercial leasing, and the same letting team deals with apartments, studios, townhouses and villas, including penthouses and terraced houses.

Tenants moving from the UK should know a few of the practical points the agents walk people through. A security deposit is always required and is usually the equivalent of one to two months' rent, refundable at the end of the lease subject to the landlord's inspection. Lease agreements must be registered with the Housing Authority, and the letting team guides tenants through that registration. Shared properties are capped at six tenants under local rules. Early termination depends on the length of the contract: on a twelve month lease a tenant can give one month's notice after the fifth month, so the mandatory period is six months, while a two year contract has a mandatory period of nine months and a three year contract one year.

When renting through an agency a standard fee applies. On signing the lease the agency fee is half of the first month's rent plus VAT, payable by the tenant and also by the landlord. If you plan to work remotely from Sliema or another part of the island, our digital nomad guide to Malta explains the residence options that may sit alongside a rental.

Selling or letting your own property

Phoenix also works for owners. Listing a residential property for sale or to let with the agency is free, and the agents carry out a site visit and take professional photographs for the agency website, its social media channels and its wider marketing. An owner can list more than one property, either for sale or for letting, and exclusive listing arrangements are available on request, with commission following the signed agreement.

For sales the base commission is 5 per cent plus VAT, paid by the vendor. For lettings the landlord pays the equivalent of half a month's rent plus VAT. Any exclusive arrangement is set out in the agreement you sign. Many UK owners of Maltese property live abroad, so the ability to manage a sale or let remotely, with viewings handled by the agents, is a real convenience.

If you own Maltese property through a company or are weighing up how best to structure a holding, our featured partner page for CLA Malta covers company, tax and relocation services alongside the agency's work.

Where Phoenix works

The agency's search tools list localities right across the islands. In the north they include Mellieħa, Mġarr, Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul's Bay and Xemxija, and the quieter countryside around Manikata and Wardija. If a holiday-style home near the beaches appeals, read our guide to Mellieħa before you begin your search.

Central and northern harbour areas on the list include Sliema, Gżira, St Julian's, Pembroke, Swieqi, Msida, Pietà, Ta' Xbiex, Floriana and Valletta, as well as Naxxar, Mosta, Attard, Balzan, Lija, Birkirkara, San Ġwann, Qormi and Żebbuġ. The south and the harbour towns include Birgu, Isla and Bormla, Kalkara, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Żejtun, Żabbar and Paola. For historic harbour living, our guide to the Three Cities shows what each of those waterfront towns is like. Mdina, Rabat, Dingli, Siġġiewi and Qrendi cover the west, and a long list of Gozo villages from Victoria and Xlendi to Marsalforn and Nadur is also included. Our Gozo guide is a good companion if you are considering the sister island.

For a wider picture of the country before you narrow down an area, start with our introduction to Malta, then look at property through the lens of lifestyle, commuting and climate.

Moving from the UK and getting started

Most UK clients begin by deciding whether they want to buy to live, buy to let or rent first. The agents work from a first conversation about budget, purpose and area, then arrange viewings and, when you find the right home, guide you through offers and paperwork. Phoenix also publishes a checklist for first-time buyers in Malta and articles on buy-to-rent investing and on different towns, such as Sliema and Fgura, which are worth reading before you speak to an agent.

If you are planning a wider move, pair your property search with our relocation guide for moving to Malta from the UK. It covers residence, healthcare, schooling and the first practical steps, which helps you brief an agent properly.

To start, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page. Tell us whether you want to buy or rent, your preferred areas and rough timing, and we will pass your message to Phoenix.