Opposition MP warns of ‘eviction crisis’ through Mintoff’s housing law

Several elderly people are facing eviction from their homes following a landmark ruling that ruled that the automatic conversion of temporary leases into permanent rental agreements was illegal, shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi warned.

“The infamous law was unjust on landlords, and all court cases are now rightfully ruling in favour of landlords,” Azzopardi said towards the end of a speech in Parliament. “However, the consequence is that several elderly people are ending up on the streets without a roof over their heads.”

“Only last week, a Court ruled in favour of the eviction of an elderly couple from their longtime home in Tarxien. The poor couple were left crying in court that a €700 monthly pension isn’t enough to find a place to rent.”

The controversial law introduced in 1979 by former prime minister Dom Mintoff to safeguard tenants converted all temporary leases on houses into permanent rental contracts. This effectively rendered the landlords unable to take the property back or even to increase the rent, many of which are now at ridiculously low annual rates.

However, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that the law breached landlords’ rights to property and the Maltese Constitutional Court of Appeal later ruled in 2013 that tenants could no longer seek the protection of the law.

“Even though this unjust law was introduced by Mintoff, let us not descend into partisanship,” Azzopardi said, calling on the government to get around the table the Opposition so as to find a solution for people now ending up on the streets.  

‘Judiciary retirement age should be increased, judiciary pension reformed’

Azzopardi also reiterated his call on the government to increase the retirement age for members of judiciary, currently set at a mandatory 65 years.

“Why should judges be forced to retire at 65 years old when many of them can continue lending this country their wisdom until well into their 70s?” he questioned. “The government has amended the Gieh ir-Repubblika Act twice in three years. Can it not find time to increase their retirement age?”

Azzopardi referred to a deal agreed between the previous Nationalist administration and members of the judiciary, that would have granted judges and magistrates uncapped pensions similar to those granted to retired MPs.

“Can retired judges truly expect to get by comfortably on €900 a month?” he questioned. “Is that the dignity they deserve? Judiciary members spend years providing such a crucial service, and many put their own lives at danger by making the correct rulings. Is a €900 monthly pension really the thank you they deserve from society?”