Estate agent fees in Malta: the real numbers
Ask three Maltese agencies what they charge and you will hear the same two numbers: 5% if everyone is selling it, 3.5% if only they are. Both take 18% VAT on top, both are negotiable, and almost nobody publishes either. Here they are in euro.
- Multi-agency
- 5% + VAT
- Sole agency
- 3.5% + VAT
- VAT on the fee
- 18%
- Who pays it
- The seller
Commission is a percentage of the price, so start with the price: a free data-backed estimate, independent of anyone pitching for the mandate.
Value it before any agency doesWant the fee table at your price?
Tell us roughly what your property would ask and we will send the commission comparison in euro, multi vs sole vs direct, alongside what comparable properties are asking right now.
The standard rates, stated plainly
Maltese residential sales commission is quoted as a percentage of the selling price and paid by the seller. The market standard is 5% on a multi-agency listing, where several agencies market the property and whichever one produces the buyer earns the fee, and 3.5% on a sole agency mandate, where one agency holds the listing exclusively for an agreed term.
VAT at 18% is charged on top of the commission. A quoted 5% is therefore 5.9% of the price once VAT is included, and a quoted 3.5% is 4.13%. When you compare routes, compare the VAT-inclusive figures; that is what leaves your account.
The sole rate is lower because exclusivity is worth roughly 30% of the headline fee to an agency: it guarantees their effort cannot be scooped by a competitor. That discount is yours to claim whenever you are willing to commit to one agency for a defined term.
What that means in euro
Percentages hide the money. The same commission structure, applied to four common price points, VAT included:
| Selling price | Multi-agency (5% + VAT) | Sole agency (3.5% + VAT) | The gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| €250,000 | €14,750 | €10,325 | €4,425 |
| €300,000 | €17,700 | €12,390 | €5,310 |
| €400,000 | €23,600 | €16,520 | €7,080 |
| €500,000 | €29,500 | €20,650 | €8,850 |
Computed at the standard quoted rates with 18% VAT on the fee. Individual mandates can differ; the mandate you sign is the contract that governs.
Sole vs multi-agency: the real trade
Multi-agency buys reach: every agency's buyer book at once, no commitment, and Maltese owners commonly list with three or four agencies simultaneously. The costs are the higher rate and diluted effort, since no agency is guaranteed to be paid for the work it puts in.
Sole agency buys commitment at a lower rate: one agency with a contractual reason to spend on your listing. The risk is picking the wrong agency and being locked to it, so the term matters more than the rate. Keep it short (eight to twelve weeks is a reasonable first term), get the marketing plan in writing, and make renewal your choice rather than automatic.
The third option is neither: sell directly, pay no commission, and keep the entire fee. It costs your time instead of your money.
Negotiating the fee
Commission in Malta is negotiable, particularly where the property is liquid stock in a liquid area, where you bring a sole mandate, or where the same agency is handling both your sale and your next purchase. Agencies negotiate percentages all day; sellers do it once a decade. Level the field by deciding your numbers before the meeting.
Three questions do most of the work: what is the fee if I sign sole for ten weeks; what marketing spend is committed in return; and what happens to the rate if I find the buyer myself. The last one matters, since a private buyer arriving through your own network should not cost you 5%.
Common questions
- What is the estate agent commission in Malta?
- The standard quotes are 5% of the selling price on a multi-agency listing and 3.5% on a sole agency mandate, in both cases plus 18% VAT on the fee. On a €300,000 sale that is €17,700 and €12,390 respectively, VAT included.
- Who pays the estate agent fee in Malta, buyer or seller?
- The seller pays the selling commission. The buyer's costs are the stamp duty and the notary. On lettings, practice varies by agency and is set out in the letting mandate.
- Is VAT charged on estate agency fees in Malta?
- Yes, at 18% on the commission. A quoted 5% fee is 5.9% of the price once VAT is included, which is the figure to use when comparing your options.
- When is the commission actually payable?
- The mandate you sign governs. Commission is commonly settled at the final deed out of the proceeds, but some mandates provide for entitlement once a konvenju is signed. Read the payment clause before signing, not after.
- Can I avoid the fee entirely?
- Yes, by selling directly: Maltese law does not require an agency, and portals let owners list free with buyers contacting them directly. You take on marketing, viewings and negotiation in exchange for keeping the full commission, €12,000 to €18,000 on a mid-market sale.