Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/216204
25 Letters maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2013 2013 Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. to 'bill' stand on this? Let's face it: whether you find a property on the first showing or the 12th showing, the fee is still the same. When a property is listed for rental with an agent, the agent needs to ask if the tenant will be given utilities in their names, and only show prospective tenants properties that are listed as such, because many times the tenant finds out after the lease is signed, and one could say that without this information being passed to the tenant, the estate agents are actually enabling, in some cases – not all – tax evasion by the property owner? Whichever way you look at it, estate agents know this happens. Don't they have a duty to inform tenants so that this exorbitant costing can at least be worked into the tenants' budget? All leases carry the agreement that the tenant will be responsible for the utilities, which is fine, but tenants do not agree to pay for overcharging of utilities and need to start adding this fact to the lease before signing. Many have been living quite oblivious to the fact that they are, and have been paying the higher domestic rate for many years. Many believe their usage just must be high, until one day they read a newspaper, or they talk to a neighbour and find they have no comeback. The 'Up in Arms' group advises all tenants in this situation to register with ARMS as the bill payer at an address as soon as possible. So how is this scam resolved? ARMS refuse all but the residency permit/e-card as proof of residency, in order to affect the residential rate, which is in direct conflict with EU guidelines. Many think the overcharging of foreigners in this respect doesn't gain anything for the country but trust me, thousands of customers paying 35% - 60% more must be gaining something. Surely, when presenting a 'lease' to ARMS, that carries the details of the property, the name of the tenant and signed by the owner/agent, should be enough for the utility company to place the bills into the names of those residing there? Currently the property (the owner) and not the person is responsible for bills accrued. That system smacks of laziness on the part of the provider, ARMS, who insist they are only doing as the government tells them. A deposit is already required by tenants, so I suggest a passport number is also required so if a tenant/customer absconds without paying a bill they can be traced. Perhaps if so much onus was not placed on the landlord, with regard to arrears, they would be more willing to 'allow' a change of name. Of course, one could argue that if residential properties were all billed at the residential rate, there wouldn't be these problems. The domestic rate is being designed initially to rip off foreigners but more and more, it actually affects the Maltese tenant too. Patricia Graham via email