How to Start a Building Maintenance Business in Malta
Blocks of flats, offices and holiday lets all need someone who turns up when a pump fails or a stairwell light dies. Here is how to set up that kind of business in Malta, from the rules on each trade to your first maintenance contract.
Updated 2 November 2026 · 5 min read
What building maintenance means day to day
A handyman fixes things in one home. Building maintenance is the same skill set applied to a whole property, often on a contract, for a client who is not living there. Your customer might be the people who run a block, a company with an office floor, or someone who owns a few rental flats.
- Stairwell and common area lights, timers and door entry systems
- Roof water tanks, pumps and blocked drains
- Door closers, locks, letterboxes and railings
- Touch-up painting in lobbies and stairs
- Roof membranes and small leaks before winter
- Turnover repairs between tenants or guests
Nobody is good at all of that alone. Most people pick two or three trades they can do well and build a small network of others for the rest.
Which jobs need a licence
Some work on a building is open to anyone competent. Some is not. Know the line before you quote, because a client who gets into trouble over unlicensed work will not call you again.
| Kind of work | What the rules say | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring, new circuits, a new fuse board | Needs a REWS authorisation (S.L. 545.24) | Hold one yourself, or partner with an authorised electrician |
| Demolition, excavation, construction | Needs a BCA licence for that activity (L.N. 166 of 2023) | Pass structural work to a licensed contractor |
| Noisy work that neighbours can hear | Set hours apply, and no works on Sundays or public holidays (S.L. 623.08) | Book drilling and breaking for weekday slots |
| Plastering, tiling, plumbing, gypsum | Jobsplus runs trade tests that certify these skills | Sit a test to back up what you learned on site |
| Anything else you plan to offer | Business 1st keeps a Licences and Permits section | Look up your exact activity before you advertise it |
Electrical installation work in Malta (installing, altering, extending or certifying) needs an authorisation from the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) under the Electrical Installations Regulations.
SourceUnder the Construction Industry Licensing Regulations (L.N. 166 of 2023), demolition, excavation and piling, and construction may only be carried out by a person or company holding a licence for that activity, issued through the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
SourceThe Construction Management Site Regulations (S.L. 623.08) set permissible hours for works that can be heard outside the site: no start before 7am and stop by 8pm; hydraulic hammers and pneumatic drills only between 7.30am and 4pm; no construction works on Sundays or public holidays.
SourceProve what you learned on the job
Many people in this line of work learned from a relative or a boss, not in a classroom. That is normal, but clients and agencies like to see something on paper. The Jobsplus trade testing system exists for exactly this.
Jobsplus trade tests assess you through an interview, a portfolio, a theory test and a practical test. At the time of writing (November 2026), occupations with an MQF level need at least three years' experience and others need at least one year. Passing gives you a Certificate of Competence, or an MQF level rated award for level rated tests.
SourceThe building and construction list includes plasterer, tile layer, plumber, gypsum board installer, block layer and concreter, plus assistant levels for several of them. There is an assistant electrical fitter test too, but it is not one of the routes to a REWS authorisation, so do not offer wiring on the strength of it.
Take a before and after photo of every repair, with the client's permission. The same photos go into a trade test portfolio and onto your profile, where they do more to win work than any description.
Register before you take paid work
Sole traders need to register with Jobsplus as self-employed. They can start trading straight away as long as the required permits and registrations are carried out.
SourceMaltese sole traders do not need a separate registration with the Malta Tax and Customs Administration, because their tax number is the same as their ID card number.
SourceIf the forms feel confusing, Business 1st can walk you through them in person. Bring your ID card or passport, and your social security number if you already have one.
Pricing call-outs and contracts
You can charge per visit, per job, or a monthly retainer that covers routine checks with repairs on top. A retainer gives you steady income, but only if both sides know exactly what it includes. Vague contracts are where maintenance businesses lose money.
Price the travel honestly. A block in a town with no parking, or a job in Gozo, takes longer than the repair itself suggests. Write that into the contract rather than absorbing it.
Winning the first buildings
Start close to home. Speak to whoever looks after your own block, to small landlords you know and to holiday let owners nearby. One reliable building tends to lead to the next, because the people who run blocks talk to each other.
Build your network of trades early. When a job needs an electrician or a plumber, being able to bring one in makes you the person the client calls first. If wiring interests you, our guide on becoming an electrician explains the authorisation. Tminta listings cost nothing, so you can list your business with the trades you cover and the areas you serve.
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to do building maintenance in Malta?
Not one single licence, but some tasks are regulated. Electrical installation work needs a REWS authorisation, and demolition, excavation and construction need a BCA licence for that activity. Small repairs, painting and fixing fittings are a different matter. Check your exact activity in the Business 1st Licences and Permits section before you offer it.
What time can construction work start in Malta?
Under the Construction Management Site Regulations, works that can be heard outside the site may not start before 7am and must stop by 8pm. Hydraulic hammers and pneumatic drills are limited to 7.30am until 4pm, and there are no construction works on Sundays or public holidays. Emergencies are allowed, and the BCA can approve exemptions.
What skills should a handyman or maintenance worker have?
Pick a few trades you can do properly, such as basic plumbing, plastering, tiling or painting, and learn to diagnose faults quickly. Just as important are turning up on time, explaining the problem in plain words, writing clear quotes and leaving the place clean. Knowing when to call in a licensed electrician or contractor protects you and the client.
Is there a handyman course in Malta?
MCAST publishes full-time and part-time course lists, and options change each year, so check its site for the trade you want. If you already have experience, a Jobsplus trade test can certify skills such as plastering, tiling, plumbing or gypsum work without going back to the classroom.