Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541179
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS Rental abuse: 'No problem. You're CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 This newspaper has seen cop- ies of two identical lease agree- ments for the same flat with only the monthly rent being different. Kamal said he and his room- mates first found the flat on Facebook Marketplace and dealt with Anthony Sammut, who introduced himself as the flat's agent and manager. Sam- mut flaunts his lavish lifestyle on social media. Kamal recounted how there were a few months when Sam- mut specifically requested he be paid his share in cash. "This dual payment system and the two lease agreements seemed strange to us," Kamal said. When asked about the two identical lease agreements, Sammut told MaltaToday this was his way of collecting his commission for managing the property. "That was the agree- ment and they [the tenants] signed it," Sammut insisted. Asked whether such an ar- rangement was normal for him, he paused and said, "that's be- tween me and my tenants." New contract, steeper increase But the story did not end there. Kamal and his friends spent a full year living at the Pi- eta flat, it was time for the con- tract to be renewed. But instead of a renewal, Sammut drew up a completely new contract. In this way, nothing prevented him from increasing the rent by more than 5%. According to law, landlords cannot increase their tenant's rent by more than 5% when renewing contracts. But given that this was a new contract, Sammut increased the rent by 7%. This time around, however, Sammut, listed himself as the property's landlord. Sammut justified this, saying he "took over the contract from the own- er." The straw that broke the cam- el's back for Kamal and his roommates came on 8 October when Sammut told them that he planned to add two more beds in the flat and take over one bedroom and bathroom. The tenants protested, point- ing out that their lease agree- ment clearly states only six tenants can live in the flat. Sammut's reply was brash, ac- cording to Kamal: "No problem. You're evicted." Sammut gave the residents just four days to leave. The reason Sammut gave Ka- mal for the eviction was that on one occasion, they were a few days late on paying the rent. Ka- mal told MaltaToday that this was because Sammut had to sign certain documents, which the tenants required as part of the procedures at Identita, the government ID and residency agency. "After weeks of refusing to sign these documents, we told him that he will be paid the rent due once the signed documents are received," Kamal told Malt- aToday. Desperate to find justice, Ka- mal tried to file a report at the Ħamrun police station but was turned away as he was told the issue was a civil matter. The police officer who spoke to Ka- mal told him that they can only intervene "if the landlord does something." The knife incident On Monday, 13 October, Ka- mal and one more roommate stayed home and didn't go to work, as that was the day they were meant to be evicted. Kamal recounted that at one point, the front door opened and Sammut walked in calmly. He started walking around the flat, seemingly checking the residence, all the while he didn't say a word. Kamal said that once Sammut got to the kitchen, he grabbed a knife and told them to get out. The two roommates left all of their possessions in the flat and told the other tenants what had happened, as Sammut and two of his friends started changing the locks. Kamal's friend at work heard of this and accompanied him Anthony Sammut flaunts his luxury possessions on social media Tenants' belongings were left in garbage bags as they slept in cars after being evicted after a few days' notice Kamal recounted how there were a few months when Sammut specifically requested he be paid his share in cash. "This dual payment system and the two lease agreements seemed strange to us," Kamal said