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Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance (Cap. 158) Consolidated

CHAPTER 158

HOUSING (DECONTROL) ORDINANCE

To provide for the decontrol and registration of certain dwelling houses, and for matters connected therewith, and to permit an adjustment in the rent payable in respect of a controlled dwelling-house where improvements have been carried out with the consent of the tenant.

10th April, 1959

ORDINANCE XIXA of 1959, as amended by Legal Notice 4 of 1963; Acts: XXIX of 1965, XXXI of 1966, XLVIII of 1972, XXXVII of 1973; Legal Notice 148 of 1975; Act XXIII of 1979; Legal Notices: 10 of 1980, 14 of

1981, 15 of 1982, 16 of 1983; Act XIII of 1983; Legal Notices: 18 of 1984,

2 of 1985, 4 of 1986; Act XXXVII of 1986; Legal Notices 10 of 1987, 20 of

1988; Act XXVIII of 1988; Legal Notices 26 of 1989, 31 of 1990, 31 of

1991, 29 of 1992, 46 of 1993, 36 of 1994 and 29 of 1995; Act XXXI of

1995; Legal Notices 25 of 1996, 29 of 1997, 76 of 1998, 64 of 1999 and 31 of 2000; Act IX of 2000; Legal Notices 30 of 2001, 46 of 2002, 73 of 2003,

and 90 of 2004; Act XVIII of 2004; Legal Notices 32 of 2005, 30 of 2006

and 36 of 2007; Act XVIII of 2007; Legal Notices 410 of 2007, 83 of 2008,

50 of 2009 and 184 of 2010; Act V of 2010; and Legal Notices 188 of 2011 and 70 of 2012.

1. The short title of this Ordinance is Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance.

2. In this Ordinance and any regulations made hereunder, except in so far as the context otherwise requires -

"appointed day" means the day on which this Ordinance comes into force;
"the Board" means the Rent Regulation Board constituted under article 16 of the R e le tt in g of Urba n Pro p ert y (R eg ul ati o n ) Ordinance;
"decont roll ed dwell i ng -hou se" mean s a dwell i ng- house registered by the Land Valuation Officer in accordance with the provisions of article 3;
"dwellin g-house" means a bui lding or part of a bu ildin g constructed or structurally adapted for occupation as a separate dwelling;
"fair rent" means the rent that has been or may be established by the Board in respect of a dwelling-house in accordance with the provisions of the Rent Restriction (Dwelling Houses) Ordinance;
"im p rov e me nts" in clud es st ru ctu r al al terati ons, a ddi ti ons or extensions and the provision of additional fixtures or fittings, but does not include anything done by way of decoration or repair;
"increase in inflation" means the increase in inflation established in the manner provided in article 13;

Short title. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2.

Interpretation. Amended by: L.N. 4 of 1963; XXIX. 1965.2; XXXVII.1973.2; XXIII.1979.2; XXVIII.1986.2.

Cap. 69.

Cap.116.

Cap. 110.

"Lan d Val uati on Offic er" m ean s th e offi cer appo int ed by the Prime Minister as Land Valuation Officer for the purpose of the Developed Land (Valuation) Ordinance;
"lessor" includes any person deriving title under the original lessor;
"letting" or "lease" includes -
(a) any emphyteutical or sub-emphyteutical grant for a period not exceeding sixteen years;
(b) notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary, any agreement in pursuance of which any person has been accommodated in consideration of payment periodically recurrent in any dwelling-house; and
(c) any other agreement whereby any real or personal right on any dwelling-house, which right includes that of occupation of that dwelling-house, is granted under an onerous or commutative title for a period of time, whether such time is established by fixing a certain specified day or whether it can be established by reference to a certain or to an uncertain future event;
"o wner" u s ed w ith referen c e to a d w el ling - house means th e person or any of the persons entitled to that dwelling-ho us e in absolute ownership, emphyteusis, sub-emphyteusis, or usufruct:
* Prov ided th at in arti cl e 3( d ) and, for t h e purpose of and in relation to that paragraph, in any other provision of this Ordinance, "owner" used with reference to a dwelling-house means the person or any of the persons entitled to that dwelling-house in absolute ownership or in perpetual emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis or in usufruct, but, in the last mentioned case, only if on the termination of the usufruct the bare owner becomes entitled to that dwelling- house in absolute ownership or in perpetual emphyteusis or sub- emphyteusis;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations under article 15;
"rental period" means a period in respect of which a payment for rent falls to be made;

*This proviso was added by Act XXXVII of 1973 which contained the following provisions:

"4. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-article (2) of this article nothing in this Act shall affect any registration validly made by the Land Valuation Officer under article 3 of the principal law before the coming into force of this Act.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of th e principal law , any regist ration as a decontrolled dwelling house made by the Land Valuation Officer under the principal law before the coming into force of this Act shall be without effect, and any house so

registered shall be deemed not to be and never to have been a decontrolled dwelling house, if such registration was made after the issue of a requisition order under the Housing Act in respect of such house and if -

(a) the house is one specified in paragraph (d) of article 3 of the principal law; or

(b) in the case of any other house, a person has been accommodated therein or has otherwise remained in occupation thereof before the coming into force of this Act,

and in any such case any such house shall be deemed to have always remained a requisitioned house."

"the Rent Ordinances" means the Reletting of Urba n Property (Regulation) Ordinance and the Rent Restr i ction (Dwel ling Houses) Ordinance;
"repairs" means those repairs which the lessor is bound to carry out at his expense;
"tenant" includes -
(a) the widow or widower of a tenant provided husband and wife were not, at the time of the death of the tenant, either legally or de facto separated;
(b) where the tenant leaves no widow or widower such members of the tenant’s family as were residing with him or her at the time of his or her death; and
(c) any sub-tenant in relation to the tenant:
Provided that for the purposes of articles 5 and 12, "tenant" shall not include any of the persons included under paragraph (b) or (c) of this definition but shall include, instead, the children, and any brother or sister, of the tenant who are not married and who reside wit h th e t e nant at the time of his or h e r death and an y ascendant of the tenant who so resides with the tenant.
"war damage payment" me ans a cost of works pa yment as defined in the War Damage Ordinance.*

3. Subject to the provisions of article 6, the Land Valuation Officer, on the application of an owner made in such manner as may be prescribed, shall register as a decontrolled dwelling-house any dwelling-house which -

(a) is not completed or ready for use as a dwelling-house on the appointed day; or
(b) although completed or ready for use as a dwelling- house on the appointed day, has not been occupied as a dwelling-house on or before that day; or
(c) is completed or ready for use after the appointed day by the making of the structural alterations converting one or more dwelling-houses into a larger number of dwelling-houses; or
(d) was on the first day of March, 1959, occupied by an owner as his ordinary residence and has continued to be so occupied up to and including the appointed day; or
(e) was acquired under a scheme as is referred to in the Home Ownership (Encouragement) Act, and in respect of which the right to register as a decontrolled dwelling-house has been granted as an incentive in accordance with that Act; or
(f) is on the date of the application, occupied by the owner as his ordinary residence and has been so

Cap. 69. Cap. 116.

Registration of decontrolled dwelling-houses. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2; XXVIII. 1988.8.

Cap. 328.

*The War Damage Ordinance (Ordinance No.III of 1943) was repealed by the Wa r

Damage (Repeal) Act (Cap. 289).

occupied by him, under any title, throughout the period of ten years immediately preceding the date of the application. For the purpose of this paragraph the expression "ordinary residence" does not include a summer residence.

Appeals from decisions of Land Valuation Officer. Amended by:

L.N. 148 of 1975.

4. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Land Va luat ion Of ficer refusing to r e gister a dwelling-house as a decontrolled dwelling-house may appeal to the Board.

(2) The Land Valuation Officer shall in every case be made a respondent in the appeal.
(3) No appeal shall lie from the decision of the Board except on a point of law determined by the Board.
(4) An appeal under sub-article (3) shall be brought before the
Court of Appeal.
(5) Appeals under sub-article (1) or under sub-article (3) shall be made in such manner and within such time and subject to such other rules of procedure as may be prescribed.

Decontrolled premises and the Rent Ordinances. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2. Substituted by: XXIII. 1979.3. Amended by: XVIII. 2004.115.

Cap. 69.

5. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this article and of article 6, the provisions of the Rent Ordinances shall not apply to any decontrolled dwelling-house from the day on which the house is registered in accordance with the provisions of article 3.

(2) Where on the expiration of the lease of a decontrolled d w el lin g-ho use (w het h er such p e ri od b e co nven t i o n a l, l e gal , custom ary or ot herwise) the tena nt is a citizen of Malta and occupies the house as his ordinary residence, the provisions of sub- article (3) shall have effect and the provisions of the Reletting of Urban Property (Regulation) Ordinance shall also apply but only in so far as they are not inconsistent with the said provisions of this article.
(3) The provisions referred to in sub-article (2) are:
(a) It shall not be lawful for the lessor of the dwelling- house to refuse to renew the lease except in any of the circumstances set out in paragraph (b), nor shall it be lawful for him to raise the rent, or to impose new conditions for the renewal of the lease, except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d).
(b) The lessor may only refuse to renew the lease, and may only resume possession of the house, at the termination of the lease, if he shows to the satisfaction of the Board, on an application to resume possession, that in the course of the lease, the tenant has failed to pay the rent due by him in respect of two or more terms within fifteen days from the day on which the lessor called upon him for payment, or has caused considerable damage to the house, or otherwise failed to comply with the conditions of the lease or his obligations thereunder, or has used the premises for a purpose other than mainly as his ordinary residence.
(c) The rent payable under the same lease after the date of the first renewal of the lease made by virtue of this sub-article may be increased by the lessor, upon such renewal and after the lapse of every fifteenth year thereafter during the continuance of the lease in favour of the same tenant, by so much of the rent payable immediately before such renewal or before the commencement of each subsequent fifteen year period, being an amount not exceeding the said rent, as represents in proportion to such rent the increase in inflation since the year the rent to be increased was last established.
(d) Where, on or before the date of any renewal of the lease of the dwelling-house, the lessor files in the Registry of the Board, a certificate, signed by a qualified architect and civil engineer and which is either accepted as correct by the tenant or has been so declared by the Board on an application by the lessor requesting such a declaration, showing that the house is in good state of maintenance and repair, all repairs and all maintenance of the dwelling-house shall thereafter, and throughout the continuance of the lease in favour of the same tenant, be at the charge of the tenant.
(4) The following provisions of this sub-article shall also have effect with respect to all leases of decontrolled dwelling-houses where the tenant is a citizen of Malta. The said provisions are:
(a) Where the lease of a decontrolled dwelling-house has been renewed as provided in sub-article (3) or under article 12(3), or has been established under sub-article (2) of the said article, it shall not be lawful for the lessor of any such house to require from any citizen of Malta, under a lease made thereafter, a rent higher than the amount which would have been payable by way of rent if the tenant in whose favour the lease was first so renewed or established had remained the tenant of that house; and any amount paid in excess shall be recoverable from the lessor.
(b) It shall not be lawful for the lessor to require the payment of a rent which is subject to variation at any time prior to the expiration of the lease, whether the variation is due to an increase or a decrease of such rent; and where the lease of a decontrolled dwelling- house is made subject to such a variation the rent payable in respect thereof shall notwithstanding the agreement to the contrary, be the lowest rate payable for any part of the duration of the lease, and any amount paid in excess shall be recoverable from the lessor.
(c) It shall not be lawful for the lessor to impose a condition requiring the repairs of the dwelling-house to be at the charge of the tenant unless the lease is in
writing and a certificate as is mentioned in sub-article
(3)(d) is attached to the instrument of lease.
(d) Where the dwelling-house is leased furnished -
(i) if the lease is made before the 2lst June, 1979, the tenant shall be entitled, at any time not earlier than one year after the said date, to demand that, with effect from the expiration of six months after the date of such demand, the lease shall remain only in respect of the building and that he shall pay only such part of the rent as relates to the building as may be agreed between himself and the lessor, or, failing such agreement, as the Board may on application by either of them establish;
(ii) if the lease is made after the date aforesaid, the lease shall distinguish between the part of the rent agreed in respect of the house and the part of the rent agreed in respect of the furniture and other household articles; and the tenant shall be entitled, at any time not earlier than one year from the date he first occupies the house under the lease, to demand the dissolution of the lease of the furniture and other household articles, and with effect from the expiration of six months after the date of the demand to have such lease dissolved and to pay only the rent agreed in respect of the house;
(iii) (deleted by: XVIII. 2004.115.);
(iv) the rights given by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall also be competent, mutatis mutandis, in respect of a transaction relating to furniture or other household articles where such transaction is so connected with the lease of a decontrolled dwelling-house to which this sub- article applies that the said lease would not have been contracted unless the said transaction had also taken place.
(5) Subject to any agreement entered into prior to 21st June,
1979, and without prejudice to the rights to which a tenant may
become entitled under this article after that date, the provisions of sub-articles (2) and (3) shall apply even though the expiration of the lease has taken place before that date if the tenant still occupies
the house as his ordinary residence on that date.

Exceptions. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2; XLVIII. 1972.2; XXXVII. 1973.3.

6. (1) The Land Valuation Officer shall not register as a decontrolled dwelling-house under this Ordinance any dwelling house specified in article 3(a), (b) or (c) if funds are or have been p r o v i d ed by a war da mag e p a ym ent o r by a G ove rn men t grant t o wards i t s constr uction or towar d s the str u ctur al alter a tion s referred to in article 3(c) or if the land on which it is constructed was giv e n on its emphy teusis or sub-emph yteusis by th e Government after the 6th December, 1972, unless in the deed of
emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis it is declared that this provision shall not apply to buildings to be constructed on the land granted by that deed.
*(2) Where a house specified in article 3(d) is requisitioned under the provisions of the Housing Act and is not, at the time of t h e issue o f th e req u isi tio n o r de r, registered as a de controlled dwelling-house under this Ordinance, the Land Valuation Officer shall not register that house as a decontrolled dwelling-house if the appropriate application f o r the regist rati on of such house as a decontrolled dwelling-house is not made within fifteen days from the service of a notice, given by the Housing Secretary to any of the owners entitled to apply for the registration aforesaid, informing such owner of the issue of the requisition order and reproducing the provisions of this sub-article, or if such application, although made within the period aforesaid, is not pursued with due diligence.
*(3) Any registration made by the Land Valuation Officer in any case to which article 3 does not apply, or in any case in which he is by this article directed not to make, shall be without effect and such house shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, be de em ed n o t t o be an d n e ve r to have been a decontrolled dwelling-house.
(4) Where a dwelling-house specified in article 3 is subject to a letting on the appointed day, the registration thereof under that article shall have effect, for the purposes of article 5, only from the day on which the owner becomes entitled to the vacant possession of such dwelling-house upon the determination of that letting.

Cap. 125.

7. As respects grant, renewal or continuance at any time during the period of three years beginning with the appointed day or at any time after 20th June, 1979, a letting of a dwelling-house to which any of the provisions of the Rent Ordinances do not apply by reason only of the preceding provisions of this Ordinance shall be treated as one to which article 8 of the Rent Restriction (Dwelling Ho uses) Ordi n a nce (which article proh ib it s t h e r e q u i r in g of premiums on the grant, renewal or continuance of a letting of any dwelling-house) applies.
8. (1) Any person who, in connection with an application under this Ordinance for regist ration of any prem ises as a decontrolled dwelling-house, knowingly or recklessly makes any statement or gives any information which is false in any material particul ar, shall b e liable o n convi ction to a fine ( m u lta ) not exceeding one hundred and sixteen euro and forty-seven cents (116.47) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under sub-article (1) any registration of a decontrolled dwelling-house obtained by means of a false statement or false information shall be null and v o id, and the co urt pro noun cin g the convi cti on shall o r der its cancellation.

Prohibition of premiums to continue as respects dwelling- houses otherwise decontrolled. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2; XXIII. 1979.4. Cap. 69.

Cap. 116.

Penalty for misrepresentation. Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2; XIII. 1983.5;

L.N. 410 of 2007.

*sub-articles (2) and (3) were added by Act XXXVII of 1973 which contained the provisions as shown in the foot-note to article 2 of this Ordinance.

Exclusion of decontrolled dwelling-house from the operation of the Housing Act.

Amended by: XXIX. 1965.2. Cap. 125.

Increase of the fair rent of controlled dwelling-houses in respect of improvements. Amended by:

XIII. 1983.5;

L.N. 410 of 2007.

Cap. 69.

Cap. 116.

9. The Housing Act shall not apply to any house which is registered as a decontrolled dwelling-house in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

10. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in articles 3,

4, 5 and 7 of the Reletting of Urb a n Pro p ert y (Regulation ) Ordinance and in articles 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the Rent Restriction (Dwelling Houses) Ordinance, if any improvements are carried out
by the lessor, after the appointed day, to a dwelling-house which has not been registered as a decontrolled dwelling-house, the fair rent of such dwelling-house shall be increased by the Board, on the
application of the lessor to that effect, by an amount, hereinafter in this article referred to as "the appropriate increase", corresponding to six per cent, per annum of any amount up to one thousand and
one hundred and sixty-fo ur eu roeuro and si xty-nine cents (1,164.69) expended by the lessor on the improvements, as proven t o th e satisfaction of th e Board, or, in defau lt, as assessed , if
necessary after an inspection of the dwelling-house, by the Board.
(2) An application for the appropriate increase under sub- article (1) shall not be allowed by the Board unless the tenant and any sub-tenant have agreed in writing, prior to the application, to the carrying out of the improvements and to the payment of the appropriate increase.
(3) An application under sub-article (1) shall, on pain of nullity -
(a) be accompanied by -
(i) the written agreement or agreements referred to in sub-article (2); and
(ii) a certified copy of the determination of the fair rent of the dwelling-house by the Board, if any, and, where more than one determination of such fair rent has been made, a certified copy of the latest of such determinations, and
(b) contain a demand for the appropriate increase stating the grounds therefor:
Provided that the Board may, at any time, allow the application to be amended for the purpose of making it clearer.
(4) Where the fair rent of the dwelling-house has not been determined by the Boa r d, an application for the appropriate increase under sub-article (1) shall be allowed by the Board only if the lessor, in the same application, demands also the determination of the fair rent.
(5) In computing the amount expended by the lessor on the imp ro vemen t s, th e Bo ar d shal l no t tak e in t o acco un t any i d l e capital, any interest on loans, and any amount which has been paid or may at any time become payable to the lessor, in respect of such improvements by way of grant by the Government.
(6) Any increase of the fair rent approved by the Board under s u b- ar tic l e (1 ) s h al l ta ke ef fe ct f r om the fi rst rent al per i od beginning after the completion of the improvements.
(7) The provisions of articles 19 to 24, 28, 29, 32 to 37 and 39 to 43 of the Reletting of Urban Property (Regulation) Ordinance shall apply to any proceedings under sub-article (1).

Cap. 69.

11. (Repealed by Act V. 2010.15.).
12. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Civil Code or in any other enactment the following provisions of this article and of article 12A shall have effect with respect to all contracts of temporary emphyteusis made at any time.
(2) Where a dwelling-house has been granted on temporary emphyteusis -
(a) for a period not exceeding thirty years, if the contract was made before 2lst June, 1979, or
(b) for any period, if the contract is made on or after the date aforesaid,
and on the expiration of any such emphyteusis the emphyteuta is a citizen of Malta and occupies the house as his ordinary residence, the emphyteuta shall be entitled to continue in occupation of the house under a lease from the directus dominus -
(i) at a rent equal to the ground-rent payable immediately before the expiration of the emphyteusis increased, at the beginning of the lease of the house by virtue of this article, and after the lapse of every fifteenth year thereafter during the continuance of the lease in favour of the same tenant, by so much of the ground-rent payable immediately before such commence- ment or the commencement of each subsequent fifteen year period, being an amount not exceeding such ground-rent, as represents in proportion to such ground-rent the increase in inflation since the time the ground-rent to be increased was last established; and
(ia) subject to the conditions laid down in subarticle
5(3)(b); and
(ii) under such other conditions as may be agreed between them, or failing agreement, as the Board may deem appropriate.
(3) Where on the expiration of an emphyteusis as is mentioned in sub-article (2)(a) or (b) the dwelling-house is subject to a lease, the prov isio ns of th e R e letting of Urban Property (Regulation) Ordinance, shall not apply in respect of such lease:
Provided that where the tenant under the said lease is a citizen of Malta and occupies the house as his ordinary residence he

Repairs in dwelling-houses not decontrolled. Added by:

XXIII. 1979.5.

Temporary emphyteusis of dwelling-houses. Added by:

XXIII. 1979.5. Amended by:

XXXVII. 1986.3; XVIII. 2007.2;

V. 2010.16.

Cap. 16.

Cap. 69.

shall, on the termination of the lease, be entitled to continue in occupation of the house u nder a new lease from the di re ct us dominus at the same rent and under the same conditions as are mentioned in sub-article (2)(i) and (ii) in respect of the emphyteuta.
(4) On the expiration of a temporary emphyteusis of a dwelling house occupied by a citizen of Malta as his ordinary residence at the time of such expiration, not being an emphyteusis mentioned in sub-article (2)(a) or (b), the emphyteuta shall be entitled to convert the emphyteusis into a perpetual one under the same conditions of the temporary emphyteusis with the exception of those relating to the duration and the ground-rent. The ground-rent payable with effect from the conversion of the emphyteusis into a perpetual one and until fifteen years from that date shall be equal to six times the ground-rent payable immediately before such conversion, and shall thereafter be increased every fifteen years by so much of the then current ground-rent, being an amount not exceeding such rent, as represents in proportion thereto the increase in inflation since the time the said ground-rent was last established.
(5) If the emphyteuta does not exercise the right granted to him by sub-article (4) within six months from the date such right is exercisable, such right shall, with the necessary modifications, pass to the occupier of the house who shall be entitled to demand, to the exclusion of the emphyteuta, that the dwelling-house be granted to him by th e own e r in perp et ual emph yt eu si s un der t h e same conditions as could have applied if the emphyteuta had converted the emphyteusis into a perpetual one.
(6) Where the emphyteuta or the occupier is entitled to convert a temporary emphyteusis into a perpetual one under sub-article (4) or (5), he may require that a notarial deed be entered into to this ef fect, and the dom inus o r th e owner shall co mpl y wi th such request.
(7) Where the date of expiration of the emphyteusis is a date prior to 21st June, 1979, the foregoing provisions of this article shall apply only if the emphyteuta or the tenant, as the case may be, still occupies the house as his ordinary residence on that date and shall not apply if he so occupies t he house under an agreement entered into by him after the expiration of the emphyteusis.
(8) Where, in the case of an emphyteusis mentioned in sub- article (2)(a) and expiring after the 21st June, 1979, the emphyteuta or the tenant occupying the house as his ordinary residence on the expiration of the emphyteusis is a person different from the person occupying the house as his ordinary residence on 21st June, 1979, the provisions of sub-article (2) or (3), as the case may be, shall apply only -
(a) if -
(i) the person occupying the house on the date aforesaid continued in occupation of the house as his ordinary residence until his death; and
(ii) the person occupying the house as his ordinary residence on the expiration of the emphyteusis
(b) if -
resided with the emphyteuta at the time of his death and had then all the other qualifications to be treated as a tenant for the purposes of this article; or
(i) the person occupying the house as his ordinary residence on the date aforesaid derived the title under which he so occupied the house from the emphyteuta occupying the house as his ordinary residence on the expiration of the emphyteusis or, if the emphyteuta from whom the said title was derived dies before the expiration of the emphyteusis, from the emphyteuta whose heir occupies the house as his ordinary residence on the expiration of the emphyteusis; and
(ii) until the expiration of the emphyteusis, no person other than the person aforesaid and the said emphyteuta, or his heir, and members of their family living with them, occupied the house in any manner whatsoever; and
(iii) not later than 30th September, 1979, notice is given in writing to the Housing Authority of the title under which the house is occupied on 21st June, 1979, stating the nature of that title, the expected duration thereof and the name of the person occupying the house under that title.
(9) For the purposes of this article -
(a) in respect of an emphyteusis mentioned in sub-article
(2)(a) or (b), emphyteusis includes a sub-emphyteusis;
(b) in respect of any other emphyteusis, emphyteusis means the original emphyteusis, but where, on the expiration of such emphyteusis, the dwelling house is held on sub-emphyteusis -
(i) the rights given by this article to the emphyteuta shall be exercisable by the last sub-emphyteuta and, without prejudice to the rights given to the occupier by sub-article (5), only by him;
(ii) the directus dominus means only the person entitled to receive the original ground-rent;
(iii) the ground-rent means only the original ground rent:
Provided that where the ground-rent payable by the last sub-emphyteuta exceeds six times the original ground-rent, sub- article (4) shall have effect as if for the words "shall be equal to six times the ground-rent" there were substituted the words "shall be equal to the sub-ground-rent".
(10) Where on the expiration of a temporary emphyteusis to which sub-article (2) or (3) applies, the dwelling-house is occupied by a person by title of usufruct or habitation, the right to continue i n o c cu patio n of su ch d w elli ng -hou se conferr e d by th ose sub -
articles or by sub-article (7) shall, notwithstanding those pro v isi o n s , be comp etent to such occupi er as if he w e re th e emphyteuta or the tenant of the dwelling-house, as the case may require.
(11) Where a temporary emphyteusis is converted into a perpetual one under sub-article (4), the dwelling-house shall remain subj ect to the rights enjoye d by third pa rtie s over such house immediately before such conversion.
(12) Where any of the rights conferred by this article is exercisable by more than one person such right may be exercised notwithstanding any disagreement among them but only if not less than half the number of such persons agree to exercise such right; an d in an y such case it sh all operate onl y in fav our of th ose exercising it.

Dwelling-houses subject to more than one emphy- teusis.

Added by: XVIII. 2007.3. Amended by: V. 2010.17.

12A. (1) This article shall apply:

(a) on the expiration of a temporary emphyteusis of sub- emphyteusis (hereinafter in this article referred to as "the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis") which is not one the effects of the termination of which are regulated by article 12(2)(a) or (b) or by article 12(4) or 12(5);
(b) of a dwelling house which at the time of the expiration of the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis:
(i) is occupied by a citizen of Malta as his ordinary residence; and
(ii) is subject to another emphyteusis or sub- emphyteusis (hereinafter in this article referred to as "the preceding emphyteusis or subemphyteusis") whether perpetual or temporary.
(2) On the expiration of the most recent emphyteusis or sub- emphyteusis the emphyteuta or the sub-emphyteuta who satisfies the requirements of subarticle (1)(b)(i) shall be entitled to continue in occupation of the dwelling house under a lease from the person holding the preceding emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis at the same rent and under the same conditions applicable according to article
12(2)(i), (ia) and (ii) which shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(3) On the expiration of the preceding emphyteusis or sub- emphyteusis the lease mentioned in subarticle (2) shall remain in force for the same rent and under the same conditions as mentioned in subarticle (2) between the tenant and the person who from time to time would, were it not for the tenancy, be entitled to the vacant possession of the house.
(4) The provisions of this article shall also apply in all cases where although the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis shall have expired before the 1st July 2007 the person who was the emphyteuta or the sub-emphyteuta in the most recent emphyteusis or sub-em phyteusis still occup i es the house as his ord i nary residence on the said date.
(5) When on the expiration of the most recent emphyteusis or su b- emph yt eusi s t h e d w ell i n g ho use i s su bj ect to a lease the provisions of article 12(3) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(6) The rights given by this article to the emphyteuta and to the sub-emphyteuta of the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis shall, where the said emphyteuta or sub-emphyteuta shall have died before the 1st July 2007, be exercisable by the person who resided with the said emphyteuta or sub-emphyteuta at the time of his death and had at that time all the other qualifications to be treated as a tenant for the purposes of article 12.
(7) Where in the case of a most recent emphyteusis or sub- emphyteusis which expires after the 1st July 2007 the emphyteuta, the sub - em ph yt eut a o r the ten a nt o ccup y in g the ho use as hi s ordinary residence on the expiration of the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis is a person different from the person occupying the house as his ordinary residence on th e 1st July 2007 the provisions of this article shall apply only in the cases mentioned in article 12(8)( a ) and ( b ) whi c h para grap hs sh all app l y mu ta ti s mutandis to the emphyteusis and the sub-emphyteusis regulated by this article, provided however that references to the "21st June
1979" are to be read and construed as references to the "1st July
2007", references to "the emphyteusis" are to be read and construed as references to "the most recent emphyteusis or sub-emphyteusis" and references to "the emphyteuta" shall be read and construed
accordingly, and the reference to the "30th September 1979" shall be read and construed as a reference to the "31st December 2007".

13. (1) The index of inflation for each of the years from 1947 until 1978 shall be that shown in the Schedule to this Ordinance, taking 1946 as a basis at 100 points.

(2) The index of inflation for each year after 1978 shall be established by the Principal Government Statistician as percentage po in ts fo r ea ch of su ch years in continuation of the Schedule aforesaid and on the basis of the all items retail price index, or a similar index replacing it, and shall be published by him in the Gazette not later than the end of March immediately following the year to which the index refers.
(3) An increase in inflation shall be established by taking the difference between the percentage points for the two relevant years, as s h own in the Schedule or as published in the Gazette, as a proportion of the first of such years.

Index of inflation.

Added by:

XXIII. 1979.5.

14. (1) The provisions of this Ordinance, and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing expression, the provisions of articles 5, 7, 12 and 13, shall have ef fect notwithstanding any agreement, undertaking, promise or other act or thing contrary to, or limiting, or purporting to limit, any of the rights conferred by those provisions on the tenant, emphyteuta or occupier of a dwelling-house; and where a person exercising any of the said rights is, by virtue of any such agreement, undertaking, promise or other act or thing, made liable to incur any penalty or any obligation or other consequence or effect, any such agreement,

Rights granted by Ordinance to prevail over agreements, etc. Added by:

XXIII. 1979.5.

undertaking, promise or other act or thing shall, to the extent that it provides for any liability as aforesaid, be null and without effect.
(2) Any waiver and any restriction or limitation of any of the ri ghts refer r ed t o in sub- arti cle (1), howe ver made, and any subjection of any such right to any obligation or liability, shall be null and without effect.

Regulations for compilation and inspection of register of decontrolled dwelling-houses. Amended by:

L.N. 4 of 1963; XXXI.1966.2;

L.N. 148 of 1975;

IX.2000.6.

Operativeness of this Ordinance. Added by: XXXI.1995.4.

15. The Minister responsible for the Public Registry may make regulations with respect to -

(a) the duties, powers and functions of the Land Valuation Officer in connection with the compilation of a register of decontrolled dwelling-houses, which may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, include the power to demand the production of any books or other documents relating to the premises in respect of which an application for registration is made and to enter and inspect the premises;
(b) the delegation by the Land Valuation Officer of any such duties, powers and functions;
(c) the procedure and fees payable for registration;
(d) the particulars required to be noted in the register;
(e) the procedure relating to appeals from decisions of the Land Valuation Officer to the Board and from decisions of the Board on such appeals to the Court of Appeal;
(f) registry fees and fees payable to any advocate or legal procurator in connection with such appeals as are referred to in the last preceding paragraph;
(g) the inspection of the register, the taking of notes therefrom, the issue of certificates of registration and the fees payable therefor;
(h) generally for carrying the purposes of this Ordinance into effect.

*16. (1) The provisions of article 5(2) to (5), article 7, article

10 and article 11, shall not apply to the lease of any dwelling house entered into on or after the 1st June, 1995.
(2) For the purposes of sub-article (1) -
(a) the renewal of a lease on or after the 1st June, 1995 (whether such renewal be conventional, legal, customary or otherwise) shall not be deemed to be a

*Article 5 of Act XXXI of 1995 inter alia provides:

5. Nothing in article 16 of the Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance shall be deemed to

restrict any of the powers of the Director of Social Housing under the Housing Act,

(Cap. 125) and the provisions of the Ordinance as in force immediately before the

coming into force of this Act (1st June 1995) shall, in as far as applicable, continue to

apply with regard to the relationship between the said Director and any owner of

premises in possession of the said Director on that date, or between the said Director

and any person legally in occupation of such premises. The provisions of the said

Ordinance as aforesaid shall also continue to regulate the relationship between any

person in occupation of such premises and the owner thereof.

lease entered into on or after the 1st June, 1995;
(b) the continued occupation of a dwelling house under a lease from the directus dominus at the expiration of a temporary emphyteutical concession expiring on or after the 1st June, 1995 in terms of article 12 shall not be deemed to be a lease entered into on or after the 1st June, 1995.
(3) The provisions of article 12 shall not apply to any contract of temporary emphyteusis entered into on or after the 1st June,
1995.

Added by: XXIII.1979.6. Amended by: L.N. 18 of 1984; L.N. 2 of 1985; L.N. 4 of 1986; L.N. 10 of 1987; L.N. 20 of 1988; L.N. 26 of 1989: L.N. 31 of 1990; L.N.31 of 1991; L.N. 29 of 1992; L.N. 46 of 1993; L.N. 36 of 1994; L.N. 29 of 1995; L.N. 25 of 1996; L.N. 29 of 1997; L.N. 76 of 1998; L.N. 64 of 1999; L.N. 31 of 2000; L.N. 30 of 2001; L.N. 46 of 2002; L.N. 73 of 2003; L.N. 90 of 2004; L.N. 32 of 2005; L.N. 30 of 2006; L.N. 36 of 2007; L.N. 83 of 2008; L.N. 50 of 2009;

L.N. 184 of 2010; L.N. 188 of 2011;

L.N. 70 of 2012.

SCHEDULE

ARTICLE 13(1)

Index of inflation for the years from 1947 until 2010

*Note: In November 1998 the index of inflation for the year 1997 was revised to 567.08 following a revision of the water and electricity rates.

ARTICLE 13(2)

Increase of inflation for the years after 1978