Chapter 432 – Reversion of Certain Lands Act

What is this act about?

This law provides for the return of land that was taken by the government under the Building Development Areas Act. It ensures that such land, once relinquished by the government, goes back to its original owners.

Who it applies to: Persons whose land was acquired by the government under the Building Development Areas Act; Persons who held rights or interests (like charges, hypothecs, or leases) over such land.

At a glance

Country: Malta
Area of law: Environment and agriculture
Articles: 5
Source: legislation.mt
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The process for land acquired under the Building Development Areas Act to revert to its original owners.
The revival of certain rights and interests, such as charges, leases, and real rights, on the reverted land.
The cessation of compensation payments once land is reverted.
The conditions under which a person might still claim a difference in value if the compensation would have been greater than the reverted land's value.

Who does this act apply to?

Persons whose land was acquired by the government under the Building Development Areas Act.
Persons who held rights or interests (like charges, hypothecs, or leases) over such land.

What are the key points?

Land reverts to the original owner(s) from the date it was acquired, as if the acquisition never happened, once the government publishes a legal notice relinquishing ownership.
Original owners must register their title at the Land Registry within three months of the reversion.
Upon reversion, any compensation previously payable for the land ceases.
A person can claim the difference in value if the compensation they would have received was greater than the value of the reverted land, but this claim must be made within one year from the coming into force of this Act.

Environment and agriculture

Chapter 199 – Agricultural Leases (Reletting) Act

Chapter 448 – Administration of Lands Act

Chapter 479 – Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act

Chapter 435 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 549 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 146 – Agriculture and Fishing Industries (Financial Assistance) Act

Chapter 13 – Commercial Code

Chapter 308 – Partition of Inheritances Act

Environment and agriculture

Legal text

Contents (5)

Art. 1
Art. 2
Art. 3
Art. 4
Art. 5

REVERSION OF CERTAIN LANDS

CHAPTER 432

REVERSION OF CERTAIN LANDS ACT To make provision for the restitution of land expropriated by virtue of the Building Development Areas Act.

1st September, 2001 ACT XVII of 2001 , as amended by Legal Notices 181 and 186 of 2006.

Art. 1

Act.

Art. 2

The short title of this Act is Reversion of Certain Lands Short title.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires - "the Act" means the Building Development Areas Act; "Building Development Area" has the same meaning assigned to it in the Act.

Art. 3

3.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act any land within a Building Development Area acquired in full ownership under the provisions of the Act as provided in article 5 thereof, upon publication in the Government Gazette of a legal notice to the effect that Government is relinquishing ownership of the said land, shall with effect from the date on which the land in question was acquired as aforesaid, and by virtue of this Act without any other formality required bylaw, revert to the person or persons to whom the land belonged, whether in full ownership or by title of direct or bare ownership, direct or utile dominium, usufruct, use or habitation, as if the acquisition by virtue of article 5 of the Act has never taken place.

Reversion of land and rights and interest therein.

(2)Upon such reversion any charge, hypothec or privilege and any other real right not mentioned in subarticle (1), as well as any lease to which the land was subject, shall revive as if it had never ceased to exist and shall continue to be operative, subject to the cessation or extinction of such right which would have ceased or have been extinguished before such reversion either in accordance with any agreement or by operation of law had the acquisition contemplated by the Act not taken place.

(3)The owners of the land shall register their title at the Land Registry in terms of the Land Registration Act within three months of such reversion. Such registration will not entitle them to an immediate issue of a "guaranteed title".

Art. 4

4.(1) Upon the reversion aforesaid, any compensation payable by virtue of the Act, or any other law, to any person claiming a right or interest over or in any land acquired by virtue of article 5 of the Act, including any compensation claimed for any period during which such land was not in his possession or any rights thereon were not exercisable, shall cease to be payable:

Cessation of rights to compensation.

Amended by:

L.N. 181 of 2006;

L.N. 186 of 2006.

Provided that where, in respect of any land, right or interest, a person can show to the satisfaction of the Civil Court, First Hall, that had the land or right not reverted to him as provided REVERSION OF CERTAIN LANDS by article 3, the compensation to which he would have been entitled would have been greater than the value of the land, right or interest aforesaid at the time of reversion, such person shall be entitled to be paid the difference in value, and where no land, right or interest can revert by virtue of that article, the compensation payable by virtue of the Act, or any other law, shall continue to be payable.

(2)Any claim made under the proviso to subarticle (1) shall only be entertained if made by sworn application filed before the lapse of one year from the coming into force of this Act.

Where rights have been transferred.

Art. 5

Where the persons from whom the land in question was acquired have transferred their rights to compensation to any other person whether by act inter vivos or causa mortis, the transfer shall, unless otherwise agreed to in the act of transfer, be deemed to be the transfer of the land or other interest therein represented by such rights.

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.