Means-test board for rent reform

One has to applaud Minister John Dalli for the determination he is showing in reforming the rent law and also the Nationalist Party for the eventual implementation of one of their electoral promises.

I would suggest that a means test board is formed. Henceforth every owner is to register his property that is being affected by the unjust 1939 rent law to the said board.

Every case is then brought to this board which in turn is to determine each individual case on its own merits i.e. social cases are to remain social cases and if the rent is adjusted this should be fair, if not proved otherwise.

High-income people are also to be evaluated by this board and if proved that a good income is being earned and/or that the tenant owns other property, his rent is to be changed to market value with immediate effect.

This board is also to act as a mediator between owner and tenant should the owner wish to take his property back for either development purposes or to pass over to his offspring. The board would then see to it that the same owner would provide alternative accommodation at the same rent or alternatively buy the tenant other accommodation. This property would be given to the tenant under certain conditions. After all, acquiring and owning a property is far better than paying rent.