Developers' association head Sandro Chetcuti pleaded with the planning Parliamentary Secretary to increase rent thresholds for those buying a Maltese passport.
The controversial Individual Investor Programme is set to be extended by the government after the 1,800 applications were reached.
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On Friday, Mr Chetcuti hailed the programme a “great success”, but said the rental prices that IIP applicants were expected to pay needed to be increased substantially.
"They are paying around €1,300 monthly. What we are saying is increase this substantially - push IIP renters to higher-end property, and this will protect the affordability of property rented by Maltese,” Mr Chetcuti said.
According to information tabled in Parliament in 2016, 81 per cent of those granted Maltese citizenship have signed five-year rent contracts to the tune of €21,000 a year.
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