Private Residential Lease Act Summary

Following the growth of the rental sector in Malta and the increase in rent cost across the island, there has been a lot of debate with respect to regulating the rental market in Malta. This has been driven by the need to protect the tenants, while at the same time respecting the rights of landlords.

The following is a summary of the Private Residential Leases Act (hereinafter ‘the Act’), the provisions of which shall come into force on a date as prescribed by the Minister in the Government Gazette.

The Act applies to Private Residential leases which are defined as ‘long or short private residential leases, including the letting of shared residential space, which is entered into after 1st January, 2020, and any lease for a residential purpose entered into before the 1st January, 2020, which would still be in its original or renewed period on the 1st January, 2021’. 

The Act defines a ‘residence’, which must be fit for habitation, as a tenement let for a primary residential purpose, however excludes guest houses and dormitories from the definition. Also, any tenements in Malta occupied by Gozo residents (and vice versa), due to education and/or employment are also regulated by the Act.

Every single lease would need to be registered online.

To read more, you can view the document here at www.quicklets.com.mt/img-uploads/private-residential-rent-summary-law-by-quicklets.pdf