Labour MEP says rents should be matched with people’s incomes

Labour MEP Miriam Dalli said an index should be created that can match people’s incomes with rents. 

Addressing an event in Gzira, Dalli said low- and medium-income earners should not spend more than an established percentage of their pay on rent. 

She said this could be achieved by matching rents with families’ incomes. 

“Rental prices have doubled in five years and this has resulted in a greater burden for our families,” Dalli said, however saying she was not in favour of direct interference in the rental and property market. 

Dalli said another measure could be a graduated increase in rent set to rates mutually agreed upon with the owner beforehand, to provide stability to owners. 

The proposal came after a meeting Dr Dalli had with Caritas’s support group for young people in marital break-ups who shared their experiences about not being able to find affordable rents. Those on a minimum wage or who had to work part time due to health constraints suffered the most, Dalli said. 

“However, there are other persons who live alone or young couples who earn slightly over the minimum wage and find it difficult to rent or buy property,” Dalli said. 

Dalli acknowledged the Labour government’s commitment to introduce measures so that more people become homeowners, introduce subsidies on rent and started working on a white paper on rent, amongst others. “All this plays an important role to ensure that Maltese and Gozitan citizens do not remain dependent on the government but have the necessary tools to find an affordable home. We need to be proactive to address new realities in our country and create initiatives that ensure that economic success is experienced by everyone." 

Dalli also said she welcomed the government’s initiative to increase police presence in Paceville, noting that more police patrolling was needed in Gzira, St Julian’s and Pembroke. “The increase in population visiting or living in these areas results in the need to ensure that Police are given the necessary resources to ensure that law is enforced.”