Tenancy bill only next year, says deputy minister

 

A deputy minister says more feedback is needed on a proposed new law to protect tenants of residential property.

PETALING JAYA: The Residential Tenancy Bill, a proposed law to protect housing tenants, can only be tabled in Parliament next year, according to a deputy minister.

Akmal Nasrullah Nasir, deputy minister for local government development, said the ministry still needed to obtain feedback on the bill before it is presented to Parliament.

He agreed that progress on the bill had been slightly delayed. The bill covers rental issues, tenant and owner responsibilities as well as the enforcement of breaches and is intended to protect tenants from being forced to vacate without proper notice being served.

Akmal was commenting on a call by property lawyer Nazri Mustafa for the government to speed up tabling the bill.

Nazri, former president of the Malaysian Lawyers Association, said the lack of specific laws to determine the rights of tenants and landlords has created conflicts difficult to resolve in a court of law.

Akmal said the ministry intended to update the Local Government Act 1976 so that action can be taken against homeowners who improperly renovate their property, including turning their balconies into rented rooms.

He said the ministry is only responsible for planning and does not have any authority over residences that have been completed or renovated.

“There are guidelines, but they involve basic construction, while renovations no longer require planning permission. At the local government level, we are in charge of planning, but once the property has been handed to the owner, it becomes a challenge (to intervene),” he said.

Recently, an ad for a “balcony room” in Shah Alam sparked anger among netizens after it was advertised for RM600 per month, with many calling for action to be taken against the owner. - FMT