I refer to the article headed ‘Expats can apply for utility refunds’ (February 16). In the first place, it must be made clear that Maltese tenants are in the same situation as European expat tenants: unless the bill is in their name, they too will not benefit from the reduced rate.

It is time to stop blaming landlords for the higher charges and to place all landlords in the same category. What has not been mentioned is the €466 refundable deposit required to change the name of the account holder.

Who pays this deposit and when and to whom? Is it refundable? Is there a cost for the reverse with a change of tenancy?

There is also the additional risk to landlords, who now lose control of the payment of bills.

An extra deposit will be required to ensure full payment before departure and that the departing tenant provides the necessary authority for the transfer back to the landlord.

This process will start again with the new tenant, which can happen again as frequently as two years.

It also seems that the utility company does not appreciate that the payment of their bills is more secure with the landlord, who owns the property, unless it is the intention to have recourse to the landlord for the balance of debts in excess of the €466 deposit.

All this is a typical case of the bureaucracy that the government is determined to remove and quite rightly so.

This concession for a lower rate is meant for the consumer, and not the account holder, and once the appropriate identity documents are presented, irrespective of who receives the bill, the concession should be allowed.

This is a simple, straightforward process which at present is being rejected by the utility company. By all means, impose heavy penalties for abusers but, please, make life simpler for all.