Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1104601
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 APRIL 2019 NEWS MALTATODAY SURVEY but a problem for the country Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 61.7% 31.2% 7.0% 52.9% 10.7% 36.4% 80.1% 16.4% 71.1% 19.1% 9.9% 70.9% 17.2% 12.0% 75.7% 10.7% 13.6% 66.7% 27.5% Yes No Don't know Should the government build apartments, not for social housing purposes but to rent out at subsidised prices to families that are not coping with the rental market? ALL Voted PL in 2017 Voted PN in 2017 Did not vote Male Female 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 90.4% 92.5% 89.5% 82.4% 8.1% 9.6% 87.9% 6.2% 93.5% 89.5% 6.8% 86.2% 9.1% 92.7% 93.1% 100.0% 88.4% 7.1% 93.7% 87.6% 9.4% 88.4% 91.1% 91.0% 93.9% 89.2% 7.7% 87.1% 7.7% Yes No Don't know Are rental increases a problem for you personally? ALL Voted PL in 2017 Voted PN in 2017 Did not vote Male Female 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary 17.6% 82.4% 17.0% 83.0% 17.1% 82.9% 23.7% 76.3% 18.3% 81.7% 16.8% 83.2% 27.5% 72.5% 9.2% 90.8% 13.9% 86.1% 17.7% 82.3% 21.7% 78.3% 13.2% 86.8% 23.3% 76.7% 21.4% 78.6% What do the Maltese think about rising property and rental prices? Should the government impose a limit on yearly rental increases by owners of private properties? ALL Voted PL in 2017 Voted PN in 2017 Did not vote Male Female 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 71.6% 17.6% 10.8% 81.1% 7.7% 11.2% 64.4% 24.3% 11.4% 51.8% 40.7% 7.5% 75.4% 18.9% 67.3% 16.1% 16.7% 69.8% 23.4% 6.8% 79.0% 11.2% 9.7% 76.8% 13.7% 9.5% 56.9% 22.9% 20.1% 53.8% 23.7% 22.4% 78.3% 10.5% 11.2% 84.5% 11.0% 61.7% 31.2% 7.0% 52.9% 10.7% 36.4% 80.1% 16.4% 71.1% 19.1% 9.9% 70.9% 17.2% 12.0% 75.7% 10.7% 13.6% 66.7% 27.5% Yes No Don't know Should the government build apartments, not for social housing purposes but to rent out at subsidised prices to families that are not coping with the rental market? ALL Voted PL in 2017 Voted PN in 2017 Did not vote Male Female 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary 90.4% 92.5% 89.5% 82.4% 8.1% 9.6% 87.9% 6.2% 93.5% 89.5% 6.8% 86.2% 9.1% 92.7% 93.1% 100.0% 88.4% 7.1% The rent reform White Paper A White Paper proposing measures to tackle ris- ing rental prices was released for consultation by the government last October. So far, the White Paper has not developed into a concrete legislative proposal. It came on the back of rising rent prices as a result of the booming economy. Rapid economic growth called for more foreign workers that created a new rental market that pushed up prices. Although home ownership in Malta runs at 80% of households, anti-poverty campaigners have ar- gued that those who lived in rented accommoda- tion were being squeezed out of the market. The White Paper had proposed compulsory reg- istration of rental contracts to curb tax evasion but shied away from proposing rent controls to calm the market increases. Instead it proposed two models to encourage landlords to offer longer leases with fixed year- ly increases. The first model proposed the introduction of mandatory minimum rental contracts with annual increases in rent agreed beforehand between the landlord and tenant. The second model ditched the forced minimum duration and relied on fiscal incentives to encour- age landlords to offer longer leases with agreed annual increases. The White Paper did not suggest what the fis- cal incentives may be and steered clear from pro- posing the ideal minimum duration of rental con- tracts. The extensive research that went into the White Paper showed that monthly rental payments were not the only problem tenants faced. The short rental contracts were leaving tenants in a state of limbo, unable to settle down and plan ahead, the research found. This, in turn, led to un- planned rental increases every few months. The research found that there was a shortage of affordable rental property within the €400-€700 per month range and more had to be done to in- crease this supply. The White Paper encouraged the government to invest with the private sector to increase the sup- ply of affordable housing for rent. All proposals were aimed at primary residences, excluding properties used for tourist accommoda- tion or short lets to foreigners residing in Malta for a brief period.