The Minister for Social and Affordable Housing, Roderick Galdes, announced the implementation of the Budget 2025 measure related to the Rental Benefit. During a press conference, Minister Galdes stressed that from this year, the maximum annual income amount on all categories of the Rental Benefit has increased by €1,000.
“This is a strong measure through which we are standing shoulder to shoulder with families. As a Government we promised to be of support to families, including when it comes to rent payments, and we are clearly doing so through the strengthening of the Rent Benefit. This is one of the main measures that as a Government we have implemented in recent years, and through which, we have around 3,100 families who are benefiting from it. This means an investment of around €11 million per year which is intended to help those who need help paying their rent and thus we are leaving around €11 million in people’s pockets,” stated Minister Galdes.
The Minister stated that the latest official statistics show that 85% of Maltese people are homeowners. “Despite this, we are aware that there are individuals who, due to social and economic realities, require assistance in order to rent their residence. This benefit is a testament to the policy of this Government which, far from turning a blind eye to these realities, is standing shoulder to shoulder with these individuals, so much so that on average, the Government is offering assistance amounting to €3,500 per year to everyone who is benefiting from this benefit,” continued Minister Galdes.
The Minister listed different categories of individuals who are benefiting from this scheme, and the assistance they are being given. A person living alone with a financial income of up to €21,635 is entitled to a benefit that can reach €4,200 per year. With regard to a single parent with two or more children, with a financial income of up to €26,216, the maximum benefit reaches €6,000 per year. With regard to a couple with two or more children, with a financial income of up to €34,635, the maximum benefit is also €6,000.
“These are important measures in the field of affordable housing, all of which are leading to a leap in the quality of life of residents, a factor that is very dear to our hearts,” concluded Minister Galdes.
The Chief Executive of the Housing Authority, Matthew Zerafa, explained that “through its Customer-Centric Approach, the Authority is placing the realities and aspirations of the families it serves at the centre of all its operations.”
Photo: MSAA/DOI
