Amendments to the Civil Code will give greater protection to musical societies facing eviction by landlords, the government said today.
The amendments were made through a Legal Notice.
Earlier this year a Paola band club had been ordered to vacate its leased premises over structural alterations that were carried out without the owners’ consent. The government had subsequently said it would intervene to make sure the band club was not evicted. It also promised to address the situation.
The Justice Ministry today said the amendments were meticulously planned and respect the rights of all concerned parties. Minister Owen Bonnici said there would be a balance between the rights of the tenants and the property owners.
Band clubs that are more than three generations old will be given protection if they lost their title, subject to a reasonable increase in the rent payment.
Property owners will also have the right to contest the conditions of the lease before the Rent Regulation Board. The board is being given the right to remedy any situations of ‘manifest disproportionality’ after taking into consideration the cultural and social functions of the band club.