Hazards of rent reform

In the coming weeks Alternattiva Demokratika will be sending volunteers to houses to gather signatures to be able to hold a referendum on rent reform. But what is AD really proposing? It is true that some rents are ridiculously low and these should be adjusted. It is ridiculous to see houses being rented out for a few liri. But what sort of adjustment is being proposed? Well-off people can afford to pay high rents. But some people - middle class, lower class, pensioners etc - have a limit and if rents go sky high, it is going to be a burden upon them and their families.

Harry Vassallo is a courageous person to tackle this problem and he is to be admired because this problem is a double-edged sword.

About the problem of inheritance, as far as I know children of parents who rent property are protected, because if their parents are deceased, they have the right to continue living in these places, in line with the law. If the law is changed, there are going to be people without a roof over their heads because not everybody can afford to buy an apartment or rent a place with the rates that are being asked today.

So the government, the opposition, AD and concerned parties should come together to find the right solutions so that neither tenants nor owners are hurt with this reform.