Can you extend a Konvenju in Malta?
Dr. Michael LaferlaNotary · Notary, Notarial Council of MaltaYes — a Konvenju can be extended, but only with the consent of both the buyer and the seller; neither side can extend it alone. The extension is a written agreement referring to the original Konvenju and setting a later date, and the notary registers it with the tax authorities within 21 days, just like the original.
Extension needs mutual agreement
As Dr. Laferla puts it, "the promise of sale can be extended, obviously with the consent of both the purchasers and the vendors." It is neither automatic nor one-sided — both parties have to agree to move the deadline.
How it's done in practice
The extension takes the form of a written agreement that refers back to the original Konvenju and fixes a new, later date. As with the original promise of sale, the notary registers the extension with the Commissioner for Inland Revenue within 21 days of signing.
Why extensions happen
The most common reason is timing — a bank loan taking longer than expected to be sanctioned, outstanding searches or permits, or paperwork that isn't ready before the original term runs out. In practice the term may be extended up to around six months in total where more complex issues are involved.
The catch — consent cuts both ways
Because an extension needs both signatures, a party who no longer wishes to proceed can simply decline to extend. If the term then lapses, the Konvenju becomes null and void, with consequences for the deposit.
Sources
- Dr. Michael Laferla — Yitaku Asks video (extension requires the consent of both parties)
- Civil Code of Malta, Chapter 16 — Article 1357 (agreed term and its extension)
- Maltese notarial practice — written extension agreement; 21-day registration with the Commissioner for Inland Revenue
