Couples, families and individuals who wish to rent a property in Malta are finding it increasingly difficult to do so, the PN said in a statement.

"According to a study published by the tenants' association Solidarjetà, carried out by economist Calvin Vella, rental affordability today is practically zero for anyone seeking to rent a home. The Housing Authority itself states that, for a property to be considered affordable and for an individual, couple or family to live decently, the rent paid by a tenant should be less than 25% of the tenant's income."

"However, the study entitled An Analysis of Affordability in the Private Rental Market in Malta found that across all categories - whether a single person or a couple, with or without children, whether on the minimum wage or earning €35,000 per year - there are almost no rentals that fall below the 25% of income threshold. Even many individuals or families earning €40,000 per year are unable to find affordable rentals in the vast majority of localities."

 "Even if the affordability benchmark is adjusted from 25% to 30%, this does not necessarily lead to any meaningful improvement. For example, a single person who depends on the highest level of subsidy can only afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment in just three localities out of a total of 20 if the rent does not exceed 25% of their income. When the benchmark is increased to 30%, only three additional localities become affordable," the PN said.

 "The study analysed 38 different scenarios based on data from the Housing Authority itself and compared these with average market rental rates. The results show that out of 38 different cases, only three can afford to pay the average rental price - and even then, this is only possible with the support of government subsidies. The report states that rental prices are placing substantial financial burdens on tenants. This is because rents have increased at a much faster pace than wages and the sharp rise in the cost of living."

"Furthermore, the study highlights how small differences in income can result in significant differences in the level of subsidy one may be eligible for. This is creating discrimination against many individuals. The study concludes that tenants in Malta are carrying an unsustainable burden, and that cases where a tenant can afford the property they live in are the exception rather than the rule. The report therefore makes recommendations for fairer rental regulations and also calls for changes to ensure that more people become eligible for housing assistance schemes."

The PN is calling on the Government to sit down with the Opposition, together with professional stakeholders in the sector and the public, to seriously examine solutions "so that everyone can once again live with dignity, with a roof over their head that does not place an unbearable burden on their shoulders." 

"If the Government truly believes in the slogan it used in one of its last budgets - A Country of Quality - it must ensure that every person enjoys a quality life, first and foremost by having a home they can afford to live in without making sacrifices beyond their means."