Zebbug Real Estate: Apartments and Townhouses in Central Malta

Żebbuġ is one of Malta's oldest settlements, with a baroque parish church, narrow lanes and traditional townhouses with enclosed wooden balconies in the core. It lies close to Attard, Qormi and the Mdina and Rabat area, and to the Verdala Palace area and Buskett Gardens. Many houses of character here are sold with a garden or courtyard, which are rare elsewhere on the island. The main roads connect to Valletta in about 20 minutes and to the airport in a similar time.

Buyers are Maltese families, expatriates who want a quieter alternative to Sliema, and buyers restoring old townhouses. Be careful: there is another Żebbuġ on the neighbouring island of Gozo, and the Maltese place name can refer to either. Always check the locality on the listing.

A typical purchase starts with an offer, followed by a promise of sale agreement and a deposit of around 10%, then a deed with a notary within a few months. Check the planning permit history, as Malta has a large number of properties with illegally built floors, and ask about the airspace rights above top-floor units.

Non-EU buyers need an Acquisition of Immovable Property permit, subject to a minimum property value. Stamp duty is 5% and notary fees about 1-1.5%. For recurring costs, there is no annual property tax on homes, and rental income can be taxed at a 15% final rate. See the Malta consultation guide and financing page for further details.

Malta's planning authority publishes permit histories for most properties, and a notary will check that the building matches its permit. In older towns like Zebbug, houses of character may fall inside an Urban Conservation Area, which restricts changes to façades, balconies and doors and can require specialist materials. Restoration is rewarding but slow, and costs are higher than for a standard flat.

Also consider bulk-up: Malta has seen heavy construction of new blocks and high-rise buildings, so ask the architect about permits for nearby sites. For top-floor flats, check the roof arrangements and whether you can build above. Use our valuation tool to benchmark a price and the contact page for introductions to Maltese notaries and surveyors.

Try Birkirkara, Mosta, Qormi and coastal Sliema and St Julian's. The Malta page lists every town we cover.