Rent Out Flats To Sub Tenants Not Remove Their Doors Psm Tells Seremban Council

---

 



The Seremban City Council’s (MBS) move to remove the doors of flats whose tenants were found to have racked up rent arrears of more than RM15,000 is likely to penalise the poorest residents, said PSM.
ADSThis is especially since it was found that some of them were sub-tenants, who had rented the low-cost flat unit from the original tenant, who in turn did not pay the council the RM150 a month rental.
“(There) have been many cases when the original tenant has rented the house (sic) to other tenants at a higher rental price and profited from this.
“By removing the door, we would be punishing the sub-tenant, and not the original tenant.
“We would propose that the council could instead immediately cancel the rental agreement with the original tenant and make the sub-tenant the new legitimate tenant.
“By doing this, it will ensure the genuine poorer tenant would benefit from the council action while errant tenants can be punished legally later,” PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said in a statement.
PSM deputy chairperson S ArutchelvanOn Feb 27, MBS removed the doors of six units at the Lobak low-cost flats when the tenants did not comply with notices to pay rent arrears between RM17,000 and RM34,000, including through instalments.
In at least one of the flats, it was found that the resident living there was not the tenant on record with MBS, indicating the unit has been sublet.
The council said the residents can temporarily remain in the flats - albeit without doors - until they can find alternative homes.
This followed a similar operation at the Paroi low-cost flats in December last year, MBS said.
Why no earlier enforcement?
Arutchelvan said the fact that tenants were found to owe as much as RM34,000 in back rent shows the council had poor enforcement measures previously.
This is especially when low-cost flat tenancy agreements are generally renewed on a three-year basis.
ADSHowever, it would take 18 years of unpaid rent to rack up a bill of RM34,000.
“So, it is baffling why there is neglect in enforcing this earlier,” he said.
He added that councils should also work with the state governments to collate a list of the state’s hardcore poor and ensure they are adequately housed.
“PSM welcomes cheap council homes. Since the Madani government has stated that it will ensure the eradication of hardcore poverty, each state must have actual data on real hardcore poor families.
“The state government and council must ensure these families do not become victims of their remove door policy,” he said. - Mkini

---