The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise welcomes the issuing of the White Paper on the Rent Law Reform as a strong and solid step in the right direction, and congratulates Social Policy Minister, the Hon John Dalli and the Rent Reform Working Group on the sterling work carried out.

The Chamber – especially through its ad hoc Committee on Rent Laws – has been pressing hard for an effective solution to be sought for the unjust aspects of the pre-1995 rent laws: including tenants’ abuse of the existing laws. In fact, the issue has been raised time and time again during regular meetings which Chamber officials have had with the Prime Minister and other government Ministers, as well as in the media.

The Chamber is mostly encouraged by the fact that political consensus is being sought on this issue. The Chamber has always maintained that the reason why property owners are reluctant to rent houses to Maltese people is based on one of trust. Landlords lack trust in legislators because in the past successive governments have legislated with retroactive effect. In fact, the Chamber reiterates its call that this consensus – especially on the issue of requisition orders – results in entrenchment in the constitution.

The Chamber therefore underlines the importance of political consensus to ensure that the long-overdue solution will be final. More importantly, political consensus means that the new law would serve its purpose of finally giving fresh impetus to the local rental market thus providing a viable alternative to purchasing high-value properties for the younger generations.

The Chamber is also satisfied with the fact that the recommendations proposed not only apply to tenancies of private landlords but also to Government in its capacity as a landlord of leased property as well as a tenant of property leased from the private sector.

There are other proposals which in the opinion of the Chamber need fine-tuning or reconsideration. The Chamber also feels that certain aspects have been omitted, and it will be highlighting these in its detailed submissions as an official reaction to this White Paper – submissions which will be issued in the coming weeks.

Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise

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