Expedite Residential Tenancy Act to protect homeowners, says group
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has to expedite the enactment and implementation of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) to safeguard the rights and interests of homeowners and tenants, says the National House Rental Association (NHRA).
Its president Prakash P. Kalivanan said the move is necessary amid growing public concern over the misuse of rented residential properties for illegal activities such as bitcoin mining operations, prostitution, harbouring illegal immigrants, storing stolen goods, loansharking activities and other unlawful conduct.
He said that under existing laws, homeowners could face investigation or possible legal action if authorities determine that they had knowledge of the illegal activities or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such activities from taking place on their property.
“As president of NHRA, I would like to emphasise that the majority of homeowners rent out their properties in good faith and are often unaware of the activities carried out by irresponsible tenants.
“Many property owners are ordinary Malaysians who rely on rental income as part of their financial commitments and should not be unfairly victimised due to the actions of tenants acting without their knowledge,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Prakash said NHRA strongly believes that Malaysia urgently requires a comprehensive RTA to provide proper legal protection and clearer guidelines for both homeowners and tenants.
“Such legislation would help regulate the residential rental market more effectively by outlining the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved,” he said, Bernama reported.
He said the introduction of a comprehensive RTA is necessary to create a balanced, transparent and legally protected rental ecosystem in Malaysia, while helping to reduce disputes, improve accountability and provide clearer enforcement mechanisms involving tenancy-related issues.
At the same time, Prakash said homeowners must exercise reasonable responsibility and diligence when renting out their properties, including taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from potential legal complications.
He said among the measures suggested were preparing proper written tenancy agreements, conducting tenant verification and background checks, carrying out periodic inspections of rented premises and maintaining proper documentation related to tenancy arrangements.
“NHRA believes that responsible homeowners should not be held accountable for criminal acts committed without their knowledge or consent.
“However, both landlords and tenants must play their part in ensuring that rented residential properties are used lawfully and responsibly,” Prakash added.
