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The government has decided to revise our outdated rent laws, a decision I agree with.
But, will there be some form of control on the prices for property rentals? For example, a ground floor maisonette having so many square metres of space with decent facilities, should not be rented at more than, say Lm60 a month, and so on.
My negative feelings are that a dictatorship is what Malta unfortunately needs. I am NOT anti-democratic... far from it, but it is high time the government and the Catholic Church wake up and address this anti-social, animal-like behaviour (survival of the fittest) of greedy property negotiators who want to become millionaires overnight! Property prices have uncontrollably gone through the ceiling.
Will the same thing happen with rental fees? I am aware that the government may offer a number of homes at affordable prices or reasonable rents, but these, unfortunately, will not be enough to meet the great demand. On the other hand, if there is not going to be some form of control, many young couples would still be doomed to work, work, and work! In that case, I think it would be better to take a painful house loan with a bank, hoping that after 25 years or so the property finally becomes yours, rather than paying an astronomical rent, and the property will never be yours!
I am not against social services and benefits, but in this country in order to qualify as a miskin (pitiable), you either have to earn a low income, or have half a dozen or so children, or be disabled (immaterial of whether this for example was due to his/her fault such as not taking protective measures at work, or careless driving, among others).
Valuing rental homes at fixed, reasonably controlled limits based on size is, in my humble opinion, preferable to categorising people for qualification to rent according to their income or other social disadvantages because with my proposal, you could always find a home to suit your pocket.
In Malta many couples have undeclared part-time jobs which often renders much more income than their main jobs... and they still qualify as “poor”. However, for the real poor to remain privileged (as they should be), there should ideally be both policies in force, i.e. what the government intends to do, and those based on controlled rental fees.
Finally, young couples should open their eyes! They should not give much importance to things that are of secondary value such as property enjoying excellent panoramic views! It’s what is inside that really matters. Today’s hectic and busy lives, with both partners working long hours to honour their financial obligations, provided they manage to remain together, implies that they hardly have time to take care and play with their children, let alone the time to appreciate the same magnificent views over and over again from their windows!
Charles Micallef
Siggiewi
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