‘Rent to Support’ Scheme Relaunched With €38 Million Investment

Minister for Social and Affordable Housing, Roderick Galdes, has announced the relaunch of the ‘Rent to Support’ scheme, a programme aimed at having private properties rented to the Housing Authority for use as social housing.

Currently, more than 1,300 families are living in properties under this scheme.

Details of the scheme’s relaunch were given at a press conference by Minister Galdes, who said that ‘Rent to Support’ is one of the government’s initiatives in the field of social housing.

Minister Galdes reminded property owners renting to the Housing Authority under this scheme that they will continue to receive a guaranteed rent, payment every six months in advance, and exemption from rental tax. Rental contracts are valid for ten years.

He encouraged property owners to join the government in expanding the scheme further, benefiting those eligible for social housing, while also providing landlords with secure and predictable rental income.

Minister Galdes also explained that, with the relaunch, innovations have been introduced to encourage tenants currently renting privately and on the Housing Authority’s waiting list, motivating landlords to include these properties in the ‘Rent to Support’ scheme.

Minister Galdes stated that, “In the first six months of this year alone, the Housing Authority has already invested over €5 million in rents paid to property owners participating in the scheme for social purposes. Since its launch in 2017, total expenditure on the scheme has reached around €38 million.”

He added that the scheme is one of the innovative tools being used to address the waiting list, noting that in the past eight years the list has been reduced by almost half.

Minister Galdes concluded that the scheme’s relaunch demonstrates the government’s commitment to social wellbeing, as well as the effective partnership between the public and private sectors in this field.

Matthew Zerafa, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority, emphasised that through the ‘Rent to Support’ scheme, the Authority is diversifying social housing with sensitivity to family realities, offering not only a roof but also stability and a sense of community.

#MaltaDaily