What’s the difference between a ‘freehold’ and ‘leasehold’ property in Malta?

In Malta, what would commonly be described as full or 'freehold' ownership generally corresponds to what Maltese law refers to as full title or dominium, where you own the property outright and indefinitely, subject only to general legal obligations that apply to all property owners, such as compliance with planning regulations, rather than any ongoing rent or reversion of the property to another party. By contrast, a 'leasehold' style arrangement in the Maltese context can take a few different specific legal forms, including a fixed-term lease with a defined expiry, or the emphyteusis (ground rent) arrangement, under which you effectively hold long-term rights to use and enjoy the property subject to paying an annual ground rent to another party, and potentially subject to the arrangement eventually expiring or reverting depending on its specific terms, rather than representing the same kind of permanent, unencumbered ownership that full title provides. Given how significantly these different forms of property holding can affect your long-term rights, your ability to sell or pass on the property, and any ongoing financial obligations attached to it, it's essential to have your notary clearly confirm and explain exactly what form of title a specific property you're considering actually involves before you commit to a purchase, rather than relying on how a listing casually describes the property.