Dalli points to convergence on rent reform proposals

Social Policy Minister John Dalli told Parliament there were many points of convergence between the government and the opposition on the rent reform proposals, giving peace of mind to owners and tenants. However, he said he was looking forward to having the amendments which the opposition would be moving at committee stage.

Winding up the debate in a second reading of the Civil Code (Amendment) Bill, Mr Dalli said the ideology shared by both sides was to uphold the rights of individuals while giving protection to those in need. What was important was that abuses under the prevalent laws would be eliminated and that the Bill could be clear, transparent and shorn of unnecessary complications.

The Bill could not be used to include new concepts as regards family relationships. One could discuss these new groupings but one could not legislate through the back door.

As regards the environmental impact of the Bill, he hoped that this would have a positive impact on physical development. The Bill would have a positive impact on the rental market because more owners would be ready to put residences on the rental market.

The minister pointed out that there were categories of people who, even if subsidised, were unable to buy their own property. The Bill aimed to help them too.

Mr Dalli acknowledged that Dr Alfred Sant, during his tenure as Prime Minister between 1996 and 1998, had taken concrete steps to start the rent reform and had set up a commission for this purpose. The minister added that although no report had been issued, extensive use of the minutes and notes taken in each commission meeting had been made in drafting the Bill under discussion.

A social analysis had been carried out by making use of the findings resulting from the 2005 census. This was taken into consideration when the €185 minimum rent was established. The government was conscious that this could cause social hardship, but it had its own mechanism to provide assistance to those in need. This could take the form of increasing certain allowances.

The Housing Authority would retain its social role. Mr Dalli denied that any housing scheme had recently been stopped, adding that he had given instructions to the Housing Authority to adapt to a changed housing landscape as a result of the changes to be brought about by the Bill.

Referring to rented club premises, he said private persons should not subsidise political, social or cultural activities. He augured that agreement as regards political clubs would be reached between the two sides of the House, adding that the government should have cultural funds to help social and cultural institutions which gave a valid contribution to village and town life. Mr Dalli said that the government had to work on a programme and take measures to put these principles into practice before liberalising the sector through a legal notice.

He showed satisfaction that both sides were in agreement on rent contracts, and that contracts covering commercial tenements would be honoured. The Rent Regulation Board would be extensively reformed and would be reconstituted in such a manner as to abide by different regulations so that cases would take weeks or months to solve instead of years, as at present.

The Bill was unanimously given a second reading and will now be discussed in committee stage by the whole House. The opposition would also have access to its own experts.