Housing Authority pensioners protected from future rent increases

The government approved an immediate change to Housing Authority policy preventing future rent-review increases for tenants whose rent is set on the basis that they are pensioners. The protection also applies to pensioners whose rent was already recalculated during the current review, providing equal treatment across eligible households. Officials said the safeguard recognises that many older tenants depend mainly on pension income. Housing Minister Owen Bonnici presented the measure as offering greater certainty, stability and peace of mind.