Government proposing two-person cap per bedroom for rental regulation law

On Wednesday (today), Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes announced the Government is proposing a two-person cap, per bedroom, in rental accommodations.

Mr Galdes, made the announcement on social media, stating that the Government will be proposing this subamendment as part of the rental regulation law discussions.

Back in December, the Government announced legal amendments to renting regulations, prohibiting landlords from registering more than six individuals living in one unit.

The new law was put forward after years of reports, even from foreign nationals, of unbearable living conditions. Many individuals, most of whom were third country nationals (TCNs), lived in crowded apartments.

Some landlords had even advertised multiple bunk beds available for individuals to rent a room when the housing unit’s kitchen and bathroom facilities were not designed for a high volume of tenants.

Despite being welcomed by many, this amendment was still criticised as the six-person limit was uniform to all rentals, no matter their size or number of bedrooms.

Now, through this proposed subamendment, the renting of one unit by six people will require three bedrooms and at least one bathroom.

In exceptional circumstances where houses have more than three bedrooms, the Government is proposing that eight people can live in one unit if it contains four bedrooms and 10 individuals if residing in a five-bedroom house. In both cases, the housing units would need to have a minimum of two bathrooms.

“When we said that we will address crowdedness [in rental units], we had a clear plan. We will address [it] and we will not tolerate any abuse,” Minister Galdes stated.