Tabor agrees rent laws need revision and it is the least Gov’t can do to make up for COVID-19 period

The Cabinet has agreed that there is a need to closely revise and
modernize the Rent Restriction Act, which was passed since
September 12, 1947, and does not reflect the current realities of
renting in Antigua and Barbuda.

Tenants have been complaining about the high rents charged for
properties that are sometimes in a rundown condition, while, on the
other hand, landlords are finding it difficult to collect rent and, on
occasion, have had to seek the eviction of delinquent tenants
through the court.

Damani Tabor, public relations officer for the United Progressive
Party (UPP), agrees that the legislation should be amended to

establish a rent-restriction board, which ensures that both landlords
and tenants are treated fairly.

However, Tabor says, the criteria used must be objective in terms of
assessing the rent, based on the size of the property – among other
requirements.
 
Further, Tabor says that any system being contemplated by the
Government should leave no room for political exploitation.
 
The UPP officer says this is the least the Government can do now,
since it failed to offer relief to the people during the COVID-19
pandemic.
 
He reminds residents that, during the post-COVID period, the UPP
had recommended that the Browne Administration grant a subsidy
to landlords who were unable to collect their rents – because their
tenants were unemployed or due to other extenuating factors.
That recommendation was never taken up by the Government,
however.

Last Wednesday, October 25, the Executive reportedly examined the
issues that both landlord and tenant face, with the objective of
bringing balance and fairness to the way in which rent is charged.
Reportedly, it also also discussed modernizing mechanisms that will
enable landlords to collect their rent.
 
While it agrees that the country operates a free-market economy,
the Cabinet says it believes there is a need to regulate this sector.

Accordingly, the Cabinet prefers that the rate of rent increases fall in
line with the rate of inflation, so that it is not increased arbitrarily.
 
“To this end, the Rent Restriction Board is to be immediately put in
place,” last week’s Cabinet Notes claim.
 
Tabor says the UPP will be paying keen attention to the
implementation of amendments to the Rent Restriction Act since the
Browne Administration is great at making promises but poor on
delivery.