As his first major action in his new portfolio, Social Policy Minister John Dalli has issued a White Paper for the reform of the pre-1995 rent laws. Undoubtedly, this can only show the minister means business on the matter. For, let us be clear, the reform of the pre-1995 rent laws has long been one of the major outstanding social injustices that few in government had the courage to assume ownership of, let alone try to change.
Yes, many a party in government has promised reform. In 1995, the then Administration drew a line in the sand and enacted the post-1995 rent legislation. Alfred Sant set up a commission which, due to the early fall of his government, remained unfinished business. The successive 1998 Nationalist Administrations had committed White Papers and reform on this sensitive matter.
Nothing materialised. And, over time, a difficult issue became increasingly tangled as properties continued to be inherited from one generation to the other and landlords continued to be cheated out of their and their families' rights to enjoy the economic value of and the property that they, or their families, worked hard to own.
Until now, that is.
There is no doubt that this is a very difficult reform. The views of the tenants - many of whom have come to consider such tenancies as being their own - are at odds with those of the landlords, who own the property and for so long have been cheated of it. To reconcile such opposing views will not be possible. And such opposing views exist; one only has to look at the various comments being posted on the rent reform website.
The policy options open to the government are simple: One either liberalises with immediate effect or one embarks on a transitional process that seeks to balance the conflicting views and the complex and intertwined issues.
The government, with exceptions based on the premise that near to immediate liberalisation may occur where it is clear there is no need to opt for social protection, has opted for a process of transition.
Yet, however right this choice is, it is still not a simple option to implement. Indeed, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU is insisting on the status quo in order to protect the interests of its tenant members.
A balanced approach means there will be no winners. All the parties concerned must be willing and able to compromise so that a transition is woven that will, over time, secure an adjustment of rights and obligations that is fair, and as the White Paper states, that is equitable to rights and obligations as established by the post-1995 rent legislation.
The fundamental question is how long should the transition process be? Emotion aside, an immediate transition is not a solution. A long drawn out transition is not a solution either.
The White Paper is the right step in the right direction. All stakeholders have been provided with the opportunity to put forward their views and influence the policy makers to seek the right balance. Whatever the outcome, the process of change has finally started.
The rent legislation as we know it today is no longer writ in stone to today's and future generations - immutable to change. The process of change has started. One augurs this is the beginning of the end.