Tenants housed illegally in hostel owned by Gaffarenas

Controversial businessman Mark Gaffarena and his wife Josielle Gaffarena are using a Sliema hostel they own to illegally host tenants on long-term residential leases, MaltaToday has learnt.

The information comes from a former tenant, who shared his experience with MaltaToday following eviction from the property when he fell out with the Gaffarenas.

Muhammad Bilal told this newspaper that his stay at the Sliema property began in January 2026 and the agreement was for a 10-month stay until October.

The property is located in Triq Manwel Dimech and the lease agreement reviewed by MaltaToday shows Josielle Gaffarena as the signatory. Nonetheless, her husband Mark Gaffarena appears on Planning Authority documents related to the property as the applicant.

Bilal told MaltaToday that trouble began when he noticed a green wire coming out of the electricity meter entering into his room and passing through a wall.

The contract signed by Josielle Gaffarena is registered under the Malta Tourism Authority, not the Housing Authority

He reported this unorthodox wiring to Josielle Gaffarena but she brushed him off and told him that there was no issue. But Bilal reported the matter to Enemalta and the property owners soon found authorities poking around their meter and discovering irregularities.

Furious, Josielle Gaffarena decided to kick Bilal out of the room, keeping his possessions in the process and leaving the Pakistani national in dire straits.

When Bilal reported the matter to the police, he was told to speak to the Housing Authority. But to his surprise the Housing Authority told him they cannot help since the property is not registered under them for residential purposes but under the Malta Tourism Authority as a hostel. The contract seen by MaltaToday confirms this.

Desperate for help, Bilal reached out to the TCN community in Malta and was directed to tenant union Solidarjeta. The union’s president Matthew Attard confirmed that the property was being used for residential purposes, but the contract signed was not residential. In fact, the contract was not a lease, but a licence agreement.

The union now has to fight an uphill battle, as the tenant’s complaint cannot be taken in front of the Housing Authority’s Arbitration Panel, which would cost just €10. Instead, Bilal has to hire a lawyer and take Gaffarena to court.

Gaffarena denies wrongdoing

When contacted, Josielle Gaffarena denied the property in question was a hostel. She also denied any wrongdoing.

She did not respond when asked whether the property is registered under the Housing Authority, and instead told MaltaToday that her former tenant “is mad”.

“That man is mad and I think he was kicked out of Pakistan,” she alleged, insisting that Bilal caused her many problems. When asked what trouble he caused, she claimed that he brought authorities to the property for inspections.

“If you think you’re going to put me on the newspaper to make Malta laugh, or you don’t have any news and just want to mention Gaffarena, you better be careful,” she cautioned.