Call for 'paperless, real-time' system of property transfer

The transfer of immovable property should be done through a new, “paperless, real-time” system, a report released by the Notarial Council suggests.

The consultative document, entitled ‘Heading for a 2020 Paperless Registration for the Transfer of Immovable Property’, puts forward the “crying need” for the creation of a digital system to facilitate the transfer of property without the need to fill in hefty amounts of paperwork at several government entities.

“A system needs to be in place, which in respect of the transfer of immovable property, needs to provide paperless, real-time processing and registration possibilities,” the document reads. The council is also calling for the creation of a digital map of Malta, which various government agencies would have access to, to facilitate its dream of a paperless property transfer process.

The system would allow a person seeking to transfer property to their name, the notary, Lands Registry, architect, Planning Authority, Inland Revenue Department, Public Registry and any other relevant entities, access to their own layer of the digital map. They would then be able to input the necessary information to update the ownership status of...