The government will be protecting and safeguarding every pensioner who will be affected by the protected rents reform. This was the message relayed by Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes during a virtual meeting with the National Association of Pensioners, in which the proposed law and its workings were explained to those present.
Minister Galdes reiterated that the substantial benefit will be covering any rental increase that the pensioner will incur, so that, while the landlord shall be receiving a fair return, this will not influence the quality of life of the pensioner in question.
“Out of 10,000 families, we found that a substantial part are pensioners. On behalf of the government, I am conveying the message that we will be acting as a shield for the affected pensioners, by means of a benefit that can reach up to €10,000 per year, depending on the property’s value. Hence, this much needed reform is being carried out with a social conscience,” Minister Galdes said.
He added that the government could not disregard this and not act on the matter, when cases in both the European Courts of Human Rights and the Maltese Court of Justice were being decided against the State and by extension the tenants. Therefore, he described this reform as a necessary, balanced and timely intervention.
The Pensioners’ Association stated that it welcomed the proposed reform. The Association acknowledges the challenge in finding a balance between landlords’ rights and tenant protection, but said that this seems to be a step in the right direction.
File photo.
