Alternattiva Demokratika insists that only with its representation in Government can the present unfair rent law regime be amended.
During a press conference yesterday afternoon, AD chairman Harry Vassallo said that “only with AD with coalition in Government can help those people who have been waiting for the law to change for these past 36 years. We are proposing to abolish the inheritance law on renting.”
Vassallo criticised both PN and MLP for not giving the issue enough importance in their electoral manifestos.
Presenting a blank paper with the letters “MLP” written on top, Vassallo sarcastically described the Labour manifesto’s failure to make any reference to rent reform as being “the equivalent of the PN’s white paper, which was supposed to be published two years ago. But to date, this has never been presented.”
On the other hand, Vassallo pointed out that the PN reserved only three paragraphs of its manifesto which “seem” to talk about rent. “The first proposal promises a reform without stating what the reform shall be,” he said. “The second proposal is not in favour of owners. Whoever earns Lm20 a year from rent will not be eligible to pay tax. Now that’s good news! The third is that government shall help out for refurbishments in these houses. More good news!” exclaimed Vassallo with a sardonic smile.
The issue of rent reform revolves around numerous properties which, owing to post-war legislation, are bound by the rent tariffs which applied in the distant 1930s. For this reason, property owners today receive only very small remuneration from their tenants, but are still legally responsible for the often expensive maintenance of the properties concerned.