Malta — Ch. 30 Human Relations § 30-42
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Decent, sanitary, healthful standard living quarters means housing which is in sound, clean, and weathertight condition in conformance with applicable local, state, and national codes. Discriminate and discrimination mean any difference expressed in any way toward a person in the terms of the sale, exchange, lease, rental or financing for housing accommodation and/or real property in regard to such sale, exchange, rental, lease or finance because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service, or familial status of such person. Financial institution means any bank, credit union, insurance company, mortgage banking company or savings and loan association which operates or has a place of business in this state. Housing accommodation means any improved or unimproved real property, or part thereof, which is used or occupied, or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied, as the home or residence of one or more individuals. Owner means any person who holds legal or equitable title to, or owns any beneficial interest in any real property or who holds legal or equitable title to shares of, or holds any beneficial interest in any real estate cooperative which owns any real property and/or housing accommodations. Real estate broker means a person, whether licensed or not, who, for or with the expectation of receiving a consideration, lists, sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, or leases real property, or who negotiates, or attempts to negotiate, any of these activities, or who holds himself out as engaged in these. Real property means buildings, structures, real estate, lands, tenements, leaseholds, interests in real estate cooperatives, condominiums, and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, or any interest therein. Cross reference-- Definitions generally, § 1-2 .
Section 30-42 of Malta's Ch. 30 Human Relations article establishes the precise meanings of key terms used throughout the fair-housing rules that follow. Words like 'discrimination,' 'housing accommodation,' 'owner,' and 'real property' are given specific legal definitions so that the rest of the article is applied consistently. The definition of 'discrimination' under § 30-42 covers differences in treatment across a broad range of protected characteristics—including race, religion, sex, age, disability, and familial status—in any sale, rental, lease, or financing transaction. These definitions set the interpretive foundation for every substantive obligation and prohibition in the article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Ch. 30 should be familiar with the definitions in § 30-42, because those definitions determine which transactions and properties fall within the article's scope. The term 'owner' in § 30-42 is broad, reaching not only holders of legal title but also those with equitable or beneficial interests, meaning a wide range of principals in a real estate arrangement may be covered. Operators who work with financial institutions or real estate brokers—both defined in § 30-42—should understand that those parties' conduct in connection with a housing transaction can also implicate the article's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Renters and prospective tenants benefit from understanding the definitions in § 30-42, because those definitions determine what conduct and what properties are covered by Malta's human-relations protections. The definition of 'discrimination' in § 30-42 is notably broad, encompassing differences in treatment during leasing or rental negotiations based on characteristics such as race, familial status, disability, and military status. Individuals who believe they have experienced unequal treatment in a housing transaction may wish to review these definitions carefully and consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or local civil-rights body to understand what remedies the article may provide.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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