Manna from heaven!

Successive governments believe that manna does fall from heaven insofar as it lands on the lucky ones who take full advantage of the 1939 Rent Act. It is about time that this government, together with future ones, recognise that this law acts not only against the interests of landlords stuck with a pittance of a rent but if the backroom boys at the heart of housing policy think about it that it strikes against the interests of us all.

Life in this modern world is one of striving and struggle. Because of sky-high land prices, many young people are saddled with massive mortgages with repayment periods of over 20 years or more. So while others struggle to buy a decent home, the lucky ones inherit properties for their use without even knowing their landlords.

Is this the kind of society to have, made up of those that struggle and those that are, without any effort at all, provided with the most expensive item in their life free of charge? This most of all is the most unfair aspect of the Rent Act.

A landlord does not know who exactly is occupying his property, be it a sub-tenant or a distant relative of the original tenant who probably is long since dead. Thus, a landlord has to put up with someone he has never met and who does not know if that person is legally occupying the property.

It is a situation that creates inequalities and injustice while providing manna to people who will live on the backs of others. I would be ashamed to pay a derisive rent to my landlord and would not live with my conscience.

It is a situation that has resulted in abandoned and dilapidated buildings where landlords have given up on their legal responsibilities and who would blame them? Ultimately, it will be the taxpayer who will have to make good and that affects us all. It is now about time some new thinking is addressed on the subject.

The first thing future governments have to do is to ensure registration of the present occupants of each property limited to two persons. Landlords will then know whom they are dealing with. Secondly, they must abolish sub-tenancies and inheritance of occupancy.

Clearly, a transition period of about 15 years or following the death of the present occupants, whichever is the earlier, should be fair to both sides.

No rent increases should be made. The legislation required should have as its object a fair balance to both landlord and tenant.

Registration of occupancy must be a major priority to ensure fairness and justice. It will be a first and much needed step.

Which political party will have the guts to effect the necessary changes?