The situation on renting

Johanna, I notice your site, at first glance, doesn't mention Forms H or F. And, as the practise of ARMS applies to all who rent then it is not discriminatory. It's the landlords, evading tax, that cause this issue. The practise of targeting ARMS, on the basis of discrimination, is misguided. (IMHO)

Hi Redmik

(moderated: no free ads here please)

But you're right.  I don't think I mention Form F at all.  Will write a blog on this soon. 

Thank you for your feed back. 

Nice one, sorry I missed that at first glance 

Yes they over the last 2 weeks I was told 20 properties are not available even when listed with a rental start date for much later this year....

Most never update their listings.... those that do are few and far between.....

When you quiz them enough, they mostly come clean and tell you they do it to look busy!
They fill the shop window and the website with phantom flats and adverts just to attract people.

its false advertising  - i guess thats another thing they havent got an advertising regulatory body - or have they and it just doesnt work.

Hi Jack,
I was living in Malta up till April 30/2014 and I was paying 380 euros for a 3 bedroom flat. I was back for a visit at Christmas and I did not see anything under 600euros in Bugibba/St. Paul's Bay. Landlords are now being taxed on their rental income but only at 33% and they raised the rents by a minimum of 200euros per month. Needless to say that is if they do declare their rental incomes!!! Otherwise you just pay it or live elsewhere in the EU.

33% tax on rental income!!! Where did you get your information from, toronto83?

that was a promise made during the elections of 2013 by the party that was elected and is in power now. The new government is certainly keeping his election promises.

Politician-in-waiting say all things....

Have you got a reference, a link or something written down some place?

Hi Toronto ,

the information you are giving is ...................................rubbish !

Check previous and correct posts.

Landlords have the option of declaring their income as in previous years or ......................... claiming a flat rate of 15 % income tax for rental income.
So they can choose what is better .

Cheers
Ricky

Hey ricky I was keeping her busy until you arrive and deliver your fatal blow as usual

Sorry   

No worries but I don't think you will be invited to the CN Tower or we will hear much from toronto83 for a while!

600 FOR BUGIBBA NEVER....

I find 'nothing under E600' hard  to believe but then it depends upon where one looks and what type of apartment one is looking for.

Just searching maltapark i found bugibba for 300 for two bedroom posted this morning
http://www.maltapark.com/item.aspx?ItemID=4014110

a three bed for 500 euros
http://www.maltapark.com/item.aspx?ItemID=4014268

there are propeties there if you look

redmik wrote:

.... and what type of apartment one is looking for.

Within one's means

Toon wrote:

600 FOR BUGIBBA NEVER....

I saw a flat in Bugibba the owner is asking for 1200 euros. It's been empty since built 4 years ago. Several other units are for sale in the same block and there are 3 unfinished flats there too.
One flat is occupied: by himself!

and exactly why is it empty?????

The owner is best positioned to answer that. He isn't short of wealth or cash.

we looked at one in mellieha some years ago and the chap wanted 1100 for it and it wasnt even finished and didnt look like he wanted to actually finish it  - we gave him a date and asked him to ring us when it was ready that was four years ago and we still waiting for that call...

I wodner if it's more of a tax mitigation tactic.

In some parts of the world, house building is mostly a private affair as people don't move, buy or sell often. They take time and slowly built it bit by bit as they have money. It struck me that many houses are lived in unfinished and always assumed it's due to lack of funds to complete it. I then once got invited to such a house and saw how lavishly finished the internal was. I had to ask and the answer I got, was a revelation:
"Upon completion of a building, we're obliged to apply for a 'Completion Certificate' and part of the process is paying a hefty property tax to the municipality as property (or land) has gained so much in value; so we don't put the visible parts in eg, facade, front garden and the drive! Technically the house is never finished and even occasionally sold as an unfinished project. As it remains unfinished indefinitely, the completion tax isn't demanded."

It seems that their authorities are well aware of this and happy to let it continue. People seem to be happy living in a house looking very ugly on the outside and from the kerb side, but very nicely done internally.

I don't suppose good law abiding Maltese citizens are circumventing Property Completion Tax payments for the sake of saving a few hundred thousand Euros. I might be wrong of course.

What a surprise - not. It may also have something to do with tradition and which evolved into become common practise in tax management terms. The tradition was that  a newly intended or married couple's family and friends would contribute the fittings and features as marriage gifts.

This forum is so helpful. I am moving to Malta in April and I am looking for accommodation. I will be working in the Mriehel area and thus am looking to be close to work. Which areas are close and better to live in? I want to be able to walk to work till I know Malta very well. My budget is also 500€ and below for a one or two bed flat/ apartment. Any suggestions of good areas to live please.
Thanks.

it could well be New Horizons and i can 100% believe it.

even here house buyers dont collect their deeds ever as thats when they MUST pay their local taxes on the house purchase

In conclusion to this side track:

a. I think we can all agree that toronto83 was talking nonsense when she wrote:
"I did not see anything under 600euros in Bugibba/St. Paul's Bay."
Unless she was looking in 'Hello' magazine or something more exotic but I better not mention any names here!

b. The call that never came in 4 years for an 1100 Euro flat in Mellieha and the empty-for-4-years-flat in Bugibba that the owner wants to rent for 1200 Euro, both could well be for reasons not openly advertised or even discussed but known to locals and crafty accountants.

Now we can all put this to rest and concentrate on other important things, for example
"why UV intensity is higher on cloudy days!?"

too technical that one for me  - so am out...

Hello,

I am about to move to Malta and i'm a bit confused. Do we have to pay the domestic residential rate at some point or not ? Sometimes i read that it's only for secondary residence (summer house), or that its a scam, that the Up in Arms group wants to go to court... Isn't that a law?
May someone explain to me, a non-Maltese non yet in the land, the form F law please ?

I'd be very grateful

No, you should only pay residential.

From previous posts:

Ricky.
the calculated bills from the ARMS website only give back what you ( or your landlord) put in !

There are three tarif options in Malta:
Domestic
Residential
Non-residential = commercial

Residential with zero registered persons is domestic and the most expensive option.

You should ask your landlord to see the actual ARMS bill to check what you should pay and whether the tarif is correct.
The landlord has to sign the form to register persons for the residential rate and you do not need to have a residence card to do this. Passport is also ok !

Johanna.

http://maltatenantsupport.weebly.com/bl … hree-rates


1.  Residential zero persons registered is actually the DOMESTIC rate
2.  Residential with the no. of persons registered greater than zero is the RESIDENTIAL rate.
3.  You cannot register anyone on the NON RESIDENTIAL tariff.  This is the commercial or business rate.

From this article at the top of the page.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=425461

If you rent here make sure you are named on the bills as named registered consumers on the account holder/owners bills, or get your bills in your own name - if you don’t you may have problems later and you could undoubtedly end up paying more than you should. Ask your landlord to complete ARMS Form H to ensure that you, your family or anyone else legally residing with you, are registered as occupants. Form H here:

https://www.smartutilities.com.mt/wps/w … OD=AJPERES


Tip. Forget 'Up in Arms' group.

Thanks redmik

id say Redmik is a tad biased  - re forget Up In Arms group comment -  just as i am towards it - they have done tremendously good  things in helping people get what is THEIR RIGHT.....

He may not agree with the methods used or deployed but they actively fight and are winning the battle against an organised deep rooted scam of charging you more for the same utilities that your LL uses....because the LL wishes to continue with their long held belief that they have a right to evade taxes - the same taxes that you end up paying because they dont.

Just remember who it was who fought for the right to have equal bus fares for all....

Fair comment Toon and you and I agree to disagree, particularly over the bus fares issue. That, imo, was overinflated pomposity and not discriminatory.
I made my comment to avoid confusion over the issue of electricity rates.
In my view all issues have been resolved.
Not to everyone's liking or satisfaction admittedly but as I say, it is the way things are done here and there is always choice.

Correct Redmik  - you and i agree to disagree as always - it is your belief that all is resolved .....its not mine.. they have a long way to go for me to believe that

Well, you know as I do that each country sets its own Laws and regulations, even within the EU.
Malta's tax issues etc. are its own internal affairs to resolve and where criminal activity is happening, again it is up to them to enforce the law.
The UK also has many 'resident only' travel schemes and different systems depending upon a subject's status as does just about every country world wide.

agreed it is...  but then they took the EU cash and part of that deal was to enforce anti tax evasion measures which they seem unwilling to implement... they have been in the EU since 2004.. and take cash most years....go figure

I understand the reluctance to do so.... as it will undoubtedly impact on the massive circles of friends and families....

we are all in it together  - but some more so than others

I maintain it's an internal matter and not for anyone else to interfere with.
UK also takes EU money and the UK has a lot of tax laws to sort out too.
Better not mention Cyprus or Greece  either

Cyprus is just as bad if not worse...in terms of tax evasion and corruption  - malta and cyprus make good bed partners for sure..... but at least the tenants here have the laws on their side and not in the hands of landlords.... still wrong in my opinion... as it should be fair to both sides but at least the right to same charges for utilities is not left to a landlord to decide if you can have it and not the account is immediately put in your name not that it matters as it can stay in the landlords name without tariff changes or red tape.(in and out in under 15mins)... plus registration is so easy not the administratve nightmare as in Malta (in and out in under 30mins)

the minute they and others took the cash it stopped being an internal matter IMO