Housing worries have shot up according to a Eurobarometer survey, becoming the second most important concern for Maltese people following migration issues. 

Over a quarter of respondents were worried about housing according to the survey, surpassing crime, as the second most pressing concern for Maltese.

When asked about the main issues facing Malta, half of the respondents mentioned migration, followed by housing (29%), environment, climate and energy issues (28%), crime (19%) and rising prices and inflation (19%).

Read: 1,700 single mothers are waiting for housing

Housing concerns rose in a matter of months, according to the survey. In the previous Eurobarometer, which was carried out in spring last year, 20% of people said they were concerned about housing.

The latest Eurobarometer survey, published on Wednesday, was taken in November last year. Over 500 interviews were carried out as part of the survey.

House prices have shot up following economic growth and the influx of foreigners over the past years. The report revealed that the prices increased at a faster rate than the world’s priciest housing market in Hong Kong.

Leading figures such as Archbishop Charles Scicluna have long warned of a “social emergency” in housing, with people finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with rising rent prices. 

Read: Bishops warn of a 'social emergency' in housing

The Eurobarometer survey also revealed trust in the written press continues to be lower than the EU average. 

Only 32% of respondents said they trusted the written media, compared to the European average of 47%.

Respondents also said television was their main source of information for local and European political matters. Trust in political parties was higher than the EU average (18%), with 36% of respondents saying they trusted parties, the report showed.

Sixty-three per cent of respondents also said they trusted the government, compared to the European average of 35%. 

Read: Run-down government buildings offered for NGO housing projects

The Maltese continue to be optimistic about their prospects, with 87% of respondents saying the current situation was either very good or rather good. Forty per cent of respondents also said they believed Malta would get better in the coming 12 months. 

This was nearly double the level registered for the whole of the EU (21%) and the highest among the 28 member states, the report noted.