The White Paper on rent reform is "balanced and neutral" according to Sandro Chetcuti, head of the Malta Developers Association. 

Speaking at a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for Social Housing Roderick Galdes, held as part of the public consultation process, Mr Chetcuti said the MDA was in favour of incentives for landlords who agreed to commit to longer term rentals.

The two sides discussed the affordability of rental properties and how housing price pressures could be mitigated without impacting the private rental market.

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MDA had contributed to the drawing up of the paper through a study on the local property market.

Mr Chetcuti said the White Paper attempted to establish stability in the rental market and that the MDA was in favour of incentives for landlords who agreed to commit to longer term rentals.

He added that there was a need to address the pre-1995 anomalies of rented properties: "it is time to offer justice to property owners who have been suffering for decades".

The MDA said in a statement that its ultimate goal was for all sectors of the population to benefit from the wealth generated within the country, maintaining the tradition of home ownership as a priority.

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During the meeting, Mr Galdes said the White Paper identified a group of people who did not qualify for social housing but were still finding it difficult to find a home.