Malta's homes: summer heat, winter damp and the mould nobody mentions

Australians arrive braced for Malta's summer. It's the winter indoors that surprises them.

The short version

• Malta's air is damp in winter. Average relative humidity peaks around 87% in January and drops to about 61% in July [1].
• Old limestone buildings soak up moisture, and few homes have central heating or good insulation. Expect cold rooms, damp walls and mould without a plan.
• A dehumidifier is close to essential from November to April. Run it, open windows on dry days, and don't dry washing indoors without one.
• Summer is long and hot. July is the hottest month, and air-con can push your power bill into pricier bands [1][2].
• Construction is everywhere. Noisy works have set hours, Sundays need special permission, and you report breaches to the Building and Construction Authority on 138 [3][4].

Why Maltese homes are cold and damp

Malta's traditional buildings are made of globigerina limestone, a soft, porous stone that's easy to carve and loves water. Thick walls stay cool in summer, which is the point. In winter, the same walls hold the chill and draw moisture up from the ground and in from the sea air.

Add a few things Australians don't expect:

• No central heating. Most homes rely on split-system air-conditioners or portable heaters. Some have none.
• Little insulation. Single glazing, gaps around old timber windows and tiled floors that are icy underfoot.
• High winter humidity. University of Malta climate data shows monthly mean humidity at its highest in January, around 87% [1].
• Washing that never dries. Without a dryer, clothes hung inside add litres of water to the air every week.
• Ground-floor and basement flats. Rising damp is worst at street level and below, and it's common in older Valletta houses.

Winter days in Malta are mild by Melbourne standards. Inside, though, many Aussies say they've never been colder at home, because Australian houses are often heated and Maltese ones often aren't.

Beating damp and mould: what works

Mould grows where moist air meets cold surfaces: corners, behind wardrobes, around windows and on bathroom ceilings. The fix is cutting moisture and keeping air moving.

A simple winter routine:

1. Run a dehumidifier daily in the dampest room, with doors open so it covers the flat.
2. Air the place out for 10–15 minutes when the sun's out and the wind is dry.
3. Use the bathroom fan or open a window after every shower.
4. Pull furniture a few centimetres off external walls so air can circulate.
5. Dry clothes near the dehumidifier, or use a laundrette dryer in the wettest weeks.
6. Wipe early mould with a mould remover and dry the spot. Paint over it and it comes back.
7. Tell the landlord in writing if damp is coming through a wall or roof. That's a building problem, not a cleaning one.

If you or the kids have asthma, mould matters. In your first six months as a new arrival, the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement covers care at public facilities, but not private clinics or ongoing treatment of existing conditions, so keep insurance [5]. Our guide to healthcare in Malta explains the system.

Summer: heat, humidity and air-con

Malta's summer runs from June into early October. July has the highest average maximum temperatures, and the record is 43.8°C, set on 9 August 1999 [1]. Average humidity is actually lowest in summer [1], but sea breezes and warm nights make it feel sticky, and nights rarely cool down properly in July and August.

Smartraveller also warns that dust storms from North Africa can affect air quality for people with heart or lung conditions [5].

Tips that work in stone flats:

• Keep shutters closed from late morning until sunset. Traditional timber shutters are your best friend.
• Open up at night for cross-breeze if the street isn't noisy.
• Top-floor flats get hot. A roof terrace is lovely at 9pm and brutal at 3pm. Ask whether the roof has been insulated or painted with reflective coating.
• Use fans with air-con, so you can set the thermostat a couple of degrees higher.
• Mind the bill. Malta charges electricity in bands, from €0.1047 a unit at the start to €0.3420 and above at high consumption [2]. Our guide to ARMS bills and the residential tariff shows how to make sure you're paying the right rate.

Construction noise: what's allowed

Malta has been building flat-out for years, and a European Parliament report found construction is the leading source of citizen noise complaints. The same report noted that 21% of Maltese people rank noise as a top environmental priority, more than double the EU average [6]. If you rent in Valletta, Floriana, Sliema or Gżira, there's a good chance a crane will be part of your view.

The rules

Construction hours are set under Subsidiary Legislation 623.08 and enforced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) [3]:

The summer ban covers localities and roads listed each year by the Malta Tourism Authority, so check whether your street is on it [4]. The European Parliament report also notes there are no decibel limits for building sites, only time limits [6]. Even within the hours, a site can be legally loud.

What you can do

1. Report out-of-hours work to the BCA on 138, day or night [4]. Note the time, address and type of machinery, and take a short video.
2. Ask the site whether they have an exemption. Out-of-hours work needs one [3].
3. Tell your local council. Councils often raise repeat complaints with the BCA and the developer.
4. Document damage. If cracks appear in your building, photograph them with dates and tell your landlord in writing.
5. Talk to your landlord early. A lease doesn't usually let you leave because of noise next door, so the time to ask about planned works is before you sign.

Before you sign: a flat-hunting checklist

Most of these problems are visible if you know where to look. Take this list to every viewing.

1. Sniff. A musty smell in a freshly aired flat means damp.
2. Look behind things. Check corners, behind wardrobes and the bathroom ceiling for black spots or fresh paint in odd places.
3. Check the walls at floor level on the ground floor for flaking plaster and white salt marks, signs of rising damp.
4. Ask what heats and cools each room. Count the air-con units and ask when they were last serviced.
5. Ask about a dehumidifier and a dryer. Some landlords supply them.
6. Look at the aspect. North-facing flats in narrow Valletta streets get little winter sun.
7. Look up and around. Empty plots, scaffolding or planning notices on neighbouring buildings mean noise ahead.
8. Ask about the roof on top-floor flats: insulation, waterproofing and leaks.
9. Check the windows close properly and the shutters work.
10. Visit twice if you can, once on a weekday morning to hear the street at its worst.

Our renting in Valletta guide covers the lease side: lock-ins, registration and the inventory, where you should list any damp you spot.

Swapping damp-busting tips or warning others about a noisy street? Join Cooee Malta, our Facebook group for Australians in Malta.

Sources

1. The climate of the Maltese Islands – C. Galdies, University of Malta
2. Residential property services and tariffs – Enemalta
3. Request for exemption to work outside permissible hours – Building and Construction Authority
4. Demolition, excavation work to stop for summer in tourist areas – The Malta Independent
5. Malta travel advice – Smartraveller
6. Malta urged to address construction and entertainment noise – MaltaToday

Keep reading

• Power and water in Malta: ARMS bills and the tariff trap
• Renting in Valletta as an Australian
• Healthcare in Malta: Mater Dei, health centres and your rights
• Private health insurance when you move overseas