Income limits for rent subsidy raised

The Housing Authority has reviewed the eligibility conditions for its rent subsidy by increasing the maximum annual income of beneficiaries to allow more people to make use of the scheme.

"The rent subsidy scheme is our fastest growing scheme and we wanted these changes to reflect the fact that average take-home pays and commercial rents can create an affordability gap," authority chairman Marisa Micallef said.

"Buying or owning is not affordable for everyone or suited to everyone's lifestyle. We hope these changes will go a small way towards helping those who pay new and high rents in the private sector," she added. Single persons who previously earned more than Lm4,429 a year could not apply under this scheme but the maximum permissible annual income has now been increased to Lm5,000.

The annual income limit for households with two adults has been raised to Lm6,000 from Lm4,429.

The revision is also allowing households with three members or more (families with children) who previously earned more than Lm5,429 and could not apply for subsidy on rent, to benefit from the scheme. The limit has now been increased to Lm7,000, representing a rise of almost 30 per cent.

This, Ms Micallef said, was a clear sign of the authority's drive to assist and support families with children, which also include separated and single parents. The latter represent the majority of those who apply for subsidy on rent.