Can anyone tell me if this article still applies?

Alphatango1954 wrote:

I found this article about Malta when surfing and researching about moving there.....I have one contact there....an estate agent and asked him if this was still true and suddenly the emails have died......

I know it is difficult when you have upped sticks and taken the plunge to be negative about a place......but before I take the plunge I would like some answers. I have looked up the car registration and it looks like I will pay for my 10 year old car all over again...

Thanks

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/ … 778679815/

If you are purchasing a property then it is no problem being on the correct tariff for utility bills, if renting you need to complete the correct form and submit it to 'ARMS' to be put on the correct tariff, this can now be done even without the landlord completing the form as far as I know. We moved here 3 years ago and our utility bills are about 1/2 what they were in the UK where we used to pay up to £1000 a year just for heating oil!

The bus fares are the same for Expats as Maltese nationals and the system is now based on travel cards similar to the 'Oyster' card. (Arriva no longer exists)

Obtaining a bank account varies from bank to bank but an account can be opened with a passport and proof of address. Internet and phone not a problem. (Some suppliers may request a deposit, ours did not)
If you have owned your car for 2 years or more prior to the date you arrive in Malta you will not have to pay the registration fee.

As to the general attitude of authorities to 'foreigners' I think it varies with the individual you are dealing with, some very helpful and some not, to a large extent it is not helped by the fact that many Maltese speak in what seems to be an aggressive manner, even to each other, to the point that I used to think there was a fight about to start!
One thing is certain you will always get half a dozen different answers to the same question from  Government officials.

Hope this helps,

Ray

Alphatango1954 wrote:

Thank you guys very helpful and good advice......

We used to live near Northampton at Great Brington and nice a village as it is, we would not move back there, or to anywhere else in the UK. ( Could not afford to anyway! )

It's nicer here in Gozo

Ray

Alphatango1954 wrote:

I found this article about Malta when surfing and researching about moving there

Thats impressive.I assume there were no waves?

Johanna MacRae wrote:

With regard to utilities you still need the signature of the landlord on Arms Form H to have access to the correct residential tariff for people living in their primary residences.

However, the EU is on to this.  At the last meeting of the EU Parliamentary Committee of Petitions (14/7/2015), it transpires that the EU Commission is unhappy with the response of the Maltese government re the Arms (sole, state owned utility billing company) / tenants issue. They think it's wrong that the tenant depends on the landlord's permission to have access to the correct tariff. In fact they kept my petition open.

So things are changing. Good luck whatever you decide.

I am not sure where to find it, but there was a post by someone on this blog to say that ARMS were now accepting form H without the landlord's agreement as long as you can show proof of residency at the specific address. ( ie. a tenancy agreement.)

Ray