Rental contract has been broken

this is exactly the sort fo stuff that happens all too often in malta

Agreed Toon. I think some of the problem might be the old rules (if you're in a property before a certain year and your ID card is on that address, then the rent was not increased so it passed down through generations.)
I've noticed over the years that cultural rules/beliefs/ideas just get passed down the generations, never questioned, never researched, just a blind faith that it's 'their right'

This continues irrespective of any new laws. People here just ignore them and it takes a very long time for any legal action or decision to be made.
Lind and Roy, find somewhere else, and then to test if this is a scam demand all your money back.
However, you may well have to kiss this money goodbye and find somewhere else and then try to seek its return at a later date.

coxf0001 wrote:

Agreed Toon. I think some of the problem might be the old rules (if you're in a property before a certain year and your ID card is on that address, then the rent was not increased so it passed down through generations.)
I've noticed over the years that cultural rules/beliefs/ideas just get passed down the generations, never questioned, never researched, just a blind faith that it's 'their right'

i agree and i think in this case its spot in  - the tenancy / rents laws here do get passed down through the family whether theyve lived there or not.....

My only advice is to demand the deposit and rent back NOW as they clearly cannot proceed - thats their problem not yours - move on find somehere else sharpish... if you have to do it legally it could take years... but a legal letter threatening legal action may do the trick or as a last resort a threat of reporting to the tax man

Play the nice guy first though, just explain that you need ot move sharpish and the property isnt ready - so a return of the cash is essential...

whichever way you choose GODOD LUCK