The former Savoy Hotel that caught ablaze last night had become a hotbed for illegal squatters, with the dilapidated scheduled building becoming a makeshift residence for drug addicts and homeless alike. 

The fire erupted at the site late last night after rubbish dumped in the building caught aflame. While it has been described as an act of arson, it is as yet unclear who exactly cause the fire. This, however, has not stopped people from questioning whether the squatters were behind it.

The site, Lovin Malta has been informed, is regularly padlocked to ensure that illegal residents don’t enter what has become a dangerous building. However, the locks are regularly broken, and access into the site remains relatively easy given the sheer size of the structure. 

The squatters, which sometimes include drug addicts, create a distressing scene for residents in the area, while the instability of the building presents a very real danger to the occupants of the abandoned site.

The problems at the abandoned hotel are not exclusively tied to illegal squatters, with sources describing an “army of rats” rushing out of the building as it burned last night

Police have been informed of the issues plaguing the site. However, a lack of resources means they are simply unable to constantly police the area.

It should also be noted that while the fire and the abandoned building’s occupants may be a cause for concern, it sheds light on a growing issue of homelessness in a country in the midst of a property boom.

So why has the former Savoy Hotel fallen into disrepair?

Buildings like the former Savoy Hotel are problematic. It has been mired with co-ownership issues for years, with the once grand building falling into disrepair. 

This issue is not at all unique to the former Savoy Hotel (a scheduled site), with a multitude of buildings across Malta and Gozo suffering the same fate. 

Fortunately, the law offers a solution for these conflicts through a forced sale as established by Article 495A of the Civil Code. However, this does not include buyers’ own shares in the property, meaning that individuals can hold out for exhorbitant amounts while the building degrades.

What do you make of this situation?

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