Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514895
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 JANUARY 2024 NEWS By means of an application filed in the Civ- il Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction Section, on the 27th October, 2023, Application number 1818/2023, by Mary Anne Salnitro gia Da Silva Pires nee Spagnol whereby she requested that it be declared open in favour of Mary Anne Sal- nitro gia Da Silva Pires nee Spagnol mother of the decujus in the quota of one half (1/2) un- divided share and the remaining one half (1/2) undivided share in favour of Zane Nuno Da Silva Pires and Giulia Salnitro brother and sister of the decujus in equal shares between them the suc- cession of Jessica Mary Da Silva Pires, unmar- ried, daughter of Rui Manuel Da Silva Pires and Mary Anne Salnitro Da Silva Pires nee Spagnol, born in Pieta, Malta, resided in Hamrun, Malta and died in Palermo, Italy on the 16th Septem- ber 2022, aged 20 and who held identity card umber 0276202(L). Wherefore, any person who believes to have an interest in the matter is hereby called upon to appear before the said Court and to bring for- ward his objections hereto by a minute to be filed within fifteen days from the posting of the banns and notices according to law. Registry of the Civil Court, Voluntary Jurisdic- tion Section. Today 1st December, 2023. ALEXANDRA DEBATTISTA For the Registrar, Civil Court and Tribunals. PARLIAMENT will begin dis- cussing amendments to the con- tentious rent law today. These amendments, spearheaded by the housing ministry, seek to — amongst other things — simplify the lease registration process and regulate the number of tenants registered in a rental property. This is being done in order to curb abuse while also helping landlords and renters better un- derstand their rights and obliga- tions. The aim of these amendments is to streamline the lease registra- tion process and regulate tenant numbers in rental properties to prevent misuse. The changes include, simplifying the process for lease renewals and substitutions, making it possible to add more lessees to a private residential lease agreement with- out having to register a new con- tract as well as allowing leases to be terminated by mutual agree- ment. Additionally, the amendments seek to expand the responsibilities of the Arbitration Panel, establish a register for individuals who do not comply with Panel decisions, and update the Housing Author- ity's registration process to align with planning laws, along with other minor operational improve- ments. More specifically, the housing authority would be empowered to enforce rules, including the issu- ance of fines not exceeding €2,300, in instances where landlords, amongst other breaches, provide false or misleading information in their registration applications. Should the fine remain unpaid, criminal legal action can be pur- sued in the Court of Magistrates. The suggested changes will also modify the terms under which tenants can notify their departure from the property. Landlords are required to notify tenants at least three months in advance if their lease will not be renewed. Presently, tenants in a year- long lease agreement can submit a one-month notice to vacate the property after residing for a minimum of six months. With the new amendments, tenants will only have the right to submit their notice immediately upon learning that their lease won't be extended. In addition, the housing author- ity plans to streamline its registra- tion portal to facilitate the process for both tenants and landlords. Currently, if one tenant decides to leave the agreement while oth- ers wish to stay, a new contract must be formulated. These amendments, a bit over three years after the law was adopted, are a response to the growth and changes in Malta and Gozo's private residential leases market, especially due to the in- creasing number of foreign work- ers. Government's intervention in 2020 introduced minimum stand- ards and a registration process for this market. The rapid changes in the global and local rental markets, influ- enced by the pandemic and other factors, have prompted the need for this legislative review. Contacted by this newspaper, a ministry spokesperson explained that the ministry, together with the authority, engaged in consul- tations with various stakeholders, including the Malta Developers Association, YMCA, Moviment Graffitti, and banks involved in the Buy-to-Let sector. T hese consultations, which be- gan following the law's initial en- actment in 2020, aimed to gather feedback and suggestions on rent- al market regulations, and have duly been taken onboard. Parliament to start discussing rent law amendments today