The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has welcomed the issuing of the White Paper on the Rent Law Reform "as a strong and solid step in the right direction", and congratulated Social Policy Minister John Dalli and the Rent Reform Working Group "on the sterling work carried out".

In a statement the Chamber said it is mostly encouraged by the fact that political consensus is being sought on this issue.

Political consensus, it said, means that the new law would serve its purpose of finally giving fresh impetus to the local rental market thus providing a viable alternative to purchasing high-value properties for the younger generations.

The Chamber is also satisfied with the fact that the recommendations proposed not only apply to tenancies of private landlords but also to the government in its capacity as a landlord of leased property as well as a tenant of property leased from the private sector.

The Chamber will be submitting detailed submissions as an official reaction to this White Paper in the coming weeks.