Irrestawra Darek: Malta's façade restoration grant explained

By YPS Malta · Updated 27 October 2026

What the grant is for

Irrestawra Darek u l-Villaġġ ("Restore your home and the village") is the Planning Authority's grant for restoring traditional buildings. It pays towards restoring the façades of homes in Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs), Malta and Gozo's historic village and town cores, and towards restoring scheduled buildings (Grade 1 and Grade 2 heritage properties). Typical works include stonework, traditional timber apertures and balconies (gallariji), and other features that give a street its character.

Owners, tenants and NGOs could apply. For scheduled buildings, the grant can also cover more than the façade.

How much you can get

• €15,000 for a property in a UCA
• €50,000 for a Grade 2 scheduled building
• €100,000 for a Grade 1 scheduled building

Not sure whether your property qualifies? The Planning Authority's online map server and its Scheduled Property Register show whether a property is in a UCA or scheduled.

What happened in 2026

The 2026 scheme had €30 million for UCA properties, split between six regions, each with its own application window:

There were also separate calls for Grade 1 and Grade 2 scheduled buildings outside UCAs, worth €2 million and then €1 million. All of the 2026 calls are now closed. Several regions filled up within days, which tells you how competitive the grant is.

Will there be a 2027 scheme?

Budget 2027, presented on 26 October 2026, says that existing government incentive schemes, including property and renovation schemes, will be renewed for 2027. No 2027 dates or amounts for Irrestawra Darek have been published yet. We'll update this page as soon as the Planning Authority announces them.

How the process works

1. Expression of interest during your region's window. Applications are first come, first served, so applying on day one matters.
2. Funding request, submitted by your perit through the Planning Authority's e-applications system.
3. Conditional approval letter from the Planning Authority.
4. Permits and commencement notice: all permits must be in hand, and the commencement notice filed at least five days before works start.
5. Works and payment: works must be completed within 48 months of the conditional approval. Heritage façades are usually paid in one payment, and scheduled buildings in up to three phased payments.

How to be ready for the next call

• Check your property's status now: UCA, Grade 1 or Grade 2.
• Talk to a perit early. They'll need to prepare the funding request, and any permit takes time.
• Get a clear, itemised quote for the restoration works, so the budget is ready on the day.
• Line up licensed contractors who know traditional stone and timber work.

Buying an old property? There's another grant too

First-time buyers of a property in a UCA, or of an older property that has been vacant for years, can get a separate grant of €15,000 in Malta or €40,000 in Gozo. It applies to deeds signed between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026, and the property must become your sole ordinary residence. Check the conditions on servizz.gov.mt.

How we help

We work with your perit to price the restoration, line up specialist stonemasons and carpenters, and manage the works so they finish well within the grant deadline, with the paperwork and photos that support each payment.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Grant conditions change from call to call, so always read the official guidance notes for the current call.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Planning Authority – Irrestawra Darek u l-Villaġġ
• Malta Daily – Planning Authority launches €30m Irrestawra Darek 2026
• Gov.mt press release – grant for scheduled buildings outside UCAs (18 June 2026)
• Ministry for Finance – Budget Speech 2027
• Servizz.gov.mt – Grant for first-time buyers of UCA or vacant property