13 comments so far.Tenants living in fear because of refusal to pay 45-60% higher utilities – Up in Arms Group
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Patricia Graham, spokesperson for the ‘EU Nationals Advisory Group: Up in Arms,’ said that over the past two weeks they have dealt with 8 individual cases, where tenants, have called and visited the Police to report threatening, abusive and bodily threats from Landlord, to no avail.
“This is all because some tenants happen to mention Form H and the Domestic versus residential rate to their landlord. Patricia Graham pointed out that “ARMS Ltd state – It is the responsibility of the account holder to pass information concerning bills to the tenants/s.”
The Group said that “the reports and complaints are refused by the Police on the basis that they are Civil, and not Criminal cases.”
“Tenants so afraid at the lack of protection, choosing to break their lease, forfeit their deposits in search of a peaceful existence,” Patricia said.
She added that “the physical threats include the landlord or representative/’s forcing their way into the property. Manhandling tenants to remove phones whilst calling for help. Verbal abuse, screaming, shouting in a threatening manner. Threats against employers, their place of work. Impersonating Police Officers. Mental abuse, regarding privacy, family friends.”
“Landlords or their representatives, which could be a neighbour with a key, entering the property when it is known the tenant is not home. Removing furniture, appliances or objects and all because these tenants refuse to pay the 45-60% higher rate they are being charged for their utilities,” Patricia Graham said.
She asked, “when will this stop. When will the Government take a stand against ARMS and tell them, This is how it is………… now do it?”
“Meanwhile ARMS rake in the cash for the Domestic rate applied to tenants living in their Primary residence, enabling those unscrupulous Landlords who will not endorse Form H, to continue evading Tax on their rental income, afraid if they do ARMS will inform the Tax Office,” Patricia Graham concluded.
Already signed by 2, 396 aggrieved citizens, a recent ‘reason for signing’ this petition reads as follows:
‘Not only the electricity rate but ALL issues regarding quotidian life like access to national health requests, getting a contact with GO, bank account, working contracts, employer habits (use and abuse) … Malta is a shame to be part of EU!’
Apart from the European Commission, it has been circulated among the 766 Members of the European Parliament.
“EU Commission: Stop the discrimination of EU Nationals in Malta”:
http://www.change.org/petitions/eu-commission-stop-the-discrimination-of-eu-nationals-in-malta
It’s about time that this ludicrous & discriminatory practice was brought to the attention of the good people of Malta. I love the island and the people, and contribute by way of income tax, national insurance and supporting local businesses. I was not born here, but I am proud to live here among my Maltese friends, whom I hold very dear.
Thank you Patricia, for highlighting the injustice being imposed on us by ARMS.
As long as ARMS LTD refuse to accept a lease from a tenant and either add that tenant to the bills or register the bills in that tenants name, (without the totally illegal deposit) we have a long, long way to go. They are making too much money from these unfortunate tenants to truly want to do something about it. I have the figures if you would like me to share
armsclassaction@gmail.com
Already signed by 408 aggrieved tenants, the dozens of ‘reasons for signing’ appended to this online petition are enlightening.
Petitioning Estate Agents in Malta – Offer more protection to tenants in Malta:
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/estate-agents-in-malta-offer-more-protection-to-tenants-in-malta#share
My husband and I will be relocating to Malta/Gozo in the next few months. We have lived in a number of EU countries and have never encountered this type of treatment by landlords! Thank you so much to Patricia Graham and the Up In Arms Group for bringing thi’s to everyone’s attention. We hope the appropriate government regulatory department will take this seriously and begin to do their jobs and enforce the regulations.
We actually left Malta as we could no longer deal with the 2 tier system, followed by 3 of our friends. I truly believe people need to be more honest and stop applying a ‘British’ way of thinking. Malta is not a nice place to live, it is sunny but I never met a Maltese person who was not looking to make something out of our situation personally or business wise. Perhaps if we applied the same way of thinking as they did things would change. As for the fact that their government(s) are aware that landlords (amongst others) pay no tax its obvious where the 1 billion euros handed over by the EU 5 years ago has been spent. Can you just imagine if we did the same in the UK the EU would go mad.
Hi Sally, yes we understand where you are coming from & agree with you entirely, actually we too are preparing to leave the islands for the very same reasons, we think it is very unfair and a discriminatory situation for the expats residing oh the islands -Gozo mainly & i can tell you there are going to be quite a few letting agents busy in the coming weeks trying to rent out all the empty properties after many of us decided to call it a day. A big shame really , but the Maltese government will never learn until its is too late.
Sally, I can understand what your frustration must have been, and I am totally behind this campaign. However, I often wonder if the people who move to Malta, particularly from the UK, have every lived in any other country. My husband and I have lived in numerous countries, and in comparison to many aspects of being an expat, this is wrong, but not even near the top of the list of problems that expats have. I truly admire Patricia and this group and will all I can to support it when I arrive, and although I completely agree it is wrong, mediterrean countries do operate differently from the Uk (which has it’s own problems), and very different from Asia. I think too often poople go into things with blinders on, which again is why I think this group is fantastic.
All I can say Linda is wait until you get there; I too have lived in many Countries and have never had the desire to leave them. Of course all countries have there issues, however I have yet to live somewhere where laws are ignored (are you aware of what they do to small birds) to the detriment of those from other Countries. Being an EU citizen is at least much better than non EU as my Husband knows only too well.
As for Patricia’s campaign I too admire her but I truly do not believe that the Maltese play by the rules which puts her at a huge disadvantage.
Good luck
good bye.
I do understand Sally. I guess living in Italy for 8 years, there were so many laws that were ignored. I live in China now, and they make up the laws each day, depending on how they feel. But good luck to you also wherever you end up.
Sally, your posts say more about yourself than Malta.
‘Sunny, but not a nice place to live’
Hope you find that ‘nice place’ , and if you do please let us all know.
The sad truth is that because of the poor governance of successive governments, the greedy unscrupulous few who care nothing about the damage done to Malta, are succeeding in destroying the reputation of Malta as a destination to move to.
This upsets me greatly. However, I am sure that Up in Arms will succeed in making sure that all this will stop. Up in Arms has already had huge success and I have no doubt that we will prevail.