housingauthority.gov.mt Rent Subsidy in Private Rented Residences Malta : Housing Authority

Organization : Housing Authority
Type of Facility : Rent Subsidy in Private Rented Residences
Country: Malta

Website : https://housingauthority.gov.mt/

Rent Subsidy in Private Rented Residences

Aim:
To provide subsidy to tenants on rents paid for their ordinary residence leased from the private sector.

Related : Housing Authority Scheme For Persons With Disability Malta : www.statusin.org/8704.html

Criteria:
** The applicant is the recognised lessee or has a title of temporary emphyteusis not exceeding 21 years.
** The property is in a good state of repair and in a habitable condition.
** Applicants do not possess assets exceeding €10,000 from one year prior to the date of application.
** Applicants do not possess other property from a year prior to date of application.
** Subsidy is calculated on the income of applicants and the rent being paid, according to the table below.

** Additional subsidy of €125 is given to disabled applicants.
** Additional subsidy €125 is given to families consisting of 6 or more members.
** An additional €300 is given to families having fostered children living with them.
** Single people who lived in care; or were for a period of time fostered; or left CCF; or who have successfully completed a rehabilitation/therapeutic programme, can benefit from the subsidy amounting to a maximum of €1,600 until the age of twenty eight (28).
** The subsidy is revised every two years and is based on applicants’ income and assets for the preceding year.
** The application is valid for a period of 6 years.

Further information about the entitlement of subsidy and conditions can be accessed from the link below:
No means testing is to be carried out on applicants in receipt of the following Non Contributory Benefits:
SA – Social Assistance
SUP – Social Assistance Single Parents
UA – Unemployment Assistance
AP – Age Pension
NMIP – National Minimum Invalidity Pension

Applications For Rent Subsidisation Under The Scheme:
Any person qualifying for Assistance under this Scheme may make an application on this
prescribed form to the Authority requesting rent subsidy on the privately owned house:
(i) occupied by him as his ordinary residence; and
(ii) rented or acquired by title of temporary emphyteusis not exceeding twenty one (21) years.

Qualification To Apply For Rent Subsidisation Under This Scheme:
A person shall qualify for rent subsidisation under this Scheme, if the following conditions are satisfied:-
1. (a) the applicant is a recognised lessee of the privately owned dwelling house on which the rent subsidisation is being applied for:-
(b) the applicant must have entered into a contract of lease with the landlord on the residence he/she wishes to rent and must provide to the Housing Authority a copy of such contract.

The agreement must be of the following types:-
(i) a contract of lease; or
(ii) a contract of temporary emphyteusis not exceeding twenty one (21) years.

Contracts of lease, which was entered into prior the coming into force of this Scheme, whether in their original period or after being renewed according to law will only be considered if:
(i) the rent payable both before (for a period of at least one year) and after the coming into force of this Scheme is the same; or
(ii) where the rent has increased, this has been the result of law, or as a result of a judgment of a competent court; provided in both cases the Housing Authority is satisfied that there is no collusion between the parties; and

(c) the applicant is a Maltese citizen or an EU citizen. In the case of married couples only but not separated, one of the couple must be a Maltese or EU citizen; and

(d) applicants are residents of Malta and have been so resident continuously for not less than eighteen (18) consecutive months immediately preceding the date of application; and

(e) in the case of married couples who are not legally or de facto separated, the application for Assistance under this Scheme must be made by both spouses jointly; and

2. (a) the property is in a good state of repair and in a habitable condition. The Housing Authority reserves the right to verify the state of the property.
(b) the lessor is an owner and not sub-lessor, or emphyteuta or sub-emphyteuta (provided that the relative emphyteusis does not exceeds twenty one {21} years).
(c) the lessor is not a direct descendant or ascendant or otherwise related to the applicant’s up to two degrees even collateral or a co-owner with the lessee.