Rent law suggestions

A promise Lawrence Gonzi said he would keep on being elected was to revise the unjust 1939 rent laws. He also said that this will be implemented within a few months after he gets elected. Electoral promises are there to be kept.

However, I suggest two points that Dr Gonzi should take into consideration.

1. Only the present tenant should be permitted to live in the rented property and should they pass away, this is to be returned immediately to the owners and not passed on to their children or to any close relative who conveniently moves in to take care of the elderly tenants.

2. If the property happens to have been passed on between 15 years ago and the present day, owing to this unjust law, a means test should be carried out on the present owners and consequently the rent fixed at 10 per cent to 20 per cent of their income, being yearly or monthly.

There are known cases of tenants with a very good income owning different properties all over Malta, however, conveniently not in their name. Others own yachts and expensive cars and only pay a pittance for the property they rent.

This is obviously not fair and must be tackled without further delay.