Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528057
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS Mark Mizzi is Solidarjetà Student Section Representative Mark Mizzi THE true cost of higher education for Gozitan students goes far beyond their studies. For many, the biggest challenge is not the time spent with their books but finding a place to live while continuing their education. Every year, over a thousand Gozitan students cross the channel to Malta, filled with hope that education will open new doors for them. However, this jour- ney is often fraught with invisible obsta- cles: rising rental prices, exploitation by unscrupulous landlords, and uncertainty about how they can find a dignified place to live. It's no secret that the majority of Gozitan students pursuing higher education end up at institutions in Malta. Gozitan stu- dents account for about 10% of university students, with hundreds more attending MCAST and ITS. These students face a difficult choice: either spend hours trav- eling daily between Gozo and Malta or rent an apartment with friends near their school. While renting may seem like the more practical option, the reality for Gozitan students in Malta is far more complicat- ed. Students encounter high rents and landlords who view them as easy sourc- es of profit. What should be an exciting time of independence and growth often turns into a struggle to live with dignity. Because of this, we have started a cam- paign in support of Gozitan students, collecting their experiences through a short survey so we can better understand what they are going through. One particular student who shared her experience in the survey explained how the landlord would frequently enter the apartment without permission. When she and her roommates expressed their desire to leave, the landlord accused them of causing damage. When they re- fused to pay for these damages—consid- ered normal wear and tear and therefore the landlord's responsibility—they were physically attacked by the landlord's hus- band. The landlord's husband threw one of the tenants against the wall and punched him in the chest. He then threw the ten- ant's belongings out of the apartment and pushed him out the door. Unfortu- nately, this is just one of many stories from students who are too afraid to re- port such incidents, fearing they will end up homeless. Although the government provides rental assistance—two subsidies amount- ing to €266 per month—these amounts are often insufficient. Additionally, the subsidy does not apply during the sum- mer months, even though the minimum contract length is one year. As a result, and to avoid the hassle of searching for a new place for the next school year, many students end up paying the full rent out of pocket during the summer. The reality is that many landlords who rent to Gozitan students do not register the contract with the Housing Authori- ty, the government entity that regulates the rental market. In some cases, there isn't even a written contract, only an in- formal agreement. This could be due to ignorance of rental laws, a desire to evade taxes, or to give landlords more flexibil- ity. Some landlords even use the excuse that registering the contract would force them to raise the rent. Students who rent under an unregis- tered contract find themselves without legal protection and often fall victim to abuse by their landlords. Despite the se- riousness of these illegal practices, many students do not report them to the po- lice, as they do not want to risk being left without a place to live during their stud- ies. Additionally, students without a regis- tered rental contract end up paying high- er rates for utilities and cannot apply for one of the mentioned subsidies that cov- ers €100 per month. Some student tenants never see an of- ficial utility bill, but pay the amount the landlord asks, which is often not based on the ARMS meter. There are also ten- ants who do not receive a receipt for their payments. According to Maltese law, tenants are not obliged to pay for elec- tricity and water without seeing an offi- cial bill and have the right to be provided with a receipt. As a trade union representing ten- ants and workers, Solidarjetà cannot allow these abuses to continue. This has spurred our campaign, in collabora- tion with the Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi (GħSL), the Gozo University Group (GUG), and Moviment Graffitti, to de- fend the rights of Gozitan students. We are urging Gozitan students to inform themselves of their rights, particularly the importance of having a registered rental contract and the illegal clauses found in many contracts. We also wish to draw the government's attention to the difficulties faced by Gozitan students and propose a reform of the rental assistance, so that subsidies are tied to market prices, apply during the summer months, and reflect the real- ity of students sharing accommodations. To better understand the challenges Gozitan students are facing, we are col- lecting their stories through a survey ac- cessible via QR code. If you are a Gozitan student who has had an experience while renting that you would like to share with us, we encourage you to fill out this short survey. These personal experiences will help us focus our campaign and ensure that, together, we can improve the living conditions of Gozitan students and pre- serve the fair treatment they deserve. This campaign is built on stories of struggle and hope—the struggle of a Gozitan student, far from their family, battling not only their studies but also the fear of being left without a roof over their head. These are not just everyday problems but obstacles that can shatter entire dreams. Through this campaign, we can give these students the peace of mind and dignity they deserve. The challenges faced by Gozitan students in the rental market Students encounter high rents and landlords who view them as easy sources of profit. What should be an exciting time of independence and growth often turns into a struggle to live with dignity.