First-Time Buyer’s Nightmare: ‘My Home is Sinking into the Ground’

Imagine buying your first home, only to wake up one morning and find it slowly disappearing into the ground. This is the reality for Maltese couple, Daniel and Maria, who moved into their new apartment in Msida just six months ago. Their home is literally sinking into the ground, and they’re not alone. A growing number of homeowners in Malta are facing similar issues, raising serious questions about construction standards and building regulations.

From Dream Home to Sinking Feeling

Daniel and Maria’s joy at finally owning their own home turned to horror when they noticed cracks appearing in their walls and floors. They initially thought it was just the house settling, but it soon became clear that something was very wrong. The ground around their apartment block was subsiding, and their home was slowly being swallowed up.

“We’ve gone from feeling like we’ve achieved our dream to feeling like we’ve bought a nightmare,” says Daniel. “It’s like we’ve bought our first home in a sinkhole.”

Widespread Problem, Limited Solutions

The couple’s plight is not an isolated incident. Similar cases have been reported in other parts of Malta, including Birkirkara and Żabbar. In some cases, entire apartment blocks have had to be evacuated due to subsidence. Yet, despite the growing number of incidents, there seems to be a lack of clear guidance or support for affected homeowners.

“We’ve been passed from pillar to post,” says Maria. “We’ve spoken to the police, the local council, the Housing Authority, and even the Prime Minister’s office. But no one seems to know who’s responsible or what can be done.”

Regulations and Responsibilities

So, who is responsible when a house starts to sink? The answer, it seems, is not clear-cut. Building regulations in Malta require developers to carry out geotechnical investigations before starting construction. However, these investigations are not always comprehensive, and some developers may cut corners to save money.

“The problem is that these investigations are only as good as the data they’re based on,” says Dr. Joseph Vella, a geotechnical engineer at the University of Malta. “If the data is incomplete or inaccurate, then the investigation is only as good as the data it’s based on.”

even if a geotechnical investigation is carried out correctly, it’s only a snapshot in time. Ground conditions can change over time, and unexpected factors, such as heavy rain or changes in groundwater levels, can cause subsidence.

Adding to the complexity, Malta’s building regulations do not currently require developers to carry out post-construction monitoring. This means that even if a house is built on stable ground, there’s no way of knowing if it remains stable after construction is completed.

“We need to start treating geotechnical engineering like we treat structural engineering,” says Dr. Vella. “We need to be monitoring these buildings throughout their lifespan, not just at the point of construction.”

Call for Action

Daniel and Maria are now living in temporary accommodation, unsure of whether they will ever be able to return to their home. They are calling on the government to take action to prevent other homeowners from facing the same fate.

“We don’t want anyone else to go through what we’re going through,” says Daniel. “We want the government to strengthen building regulations, to make sure that developers are held accountable, and to provide support for homeowners who find themselves in this situation.”

In the meantime, the couple is left to pick up the pieces, both literally and metaphorically. They are currently trying to salvage what they can from their sinking home, while also fighting to get answers and compensation from the developers and the authorities.

“We just want to feel safe in our own home,” says Maria. “Is that too much to ask?”