Re/MAX Chairman Kevin Buttigieg said that the business of renting properties and sub-letting them out to tourists should be handled by a proper team, rather than a one-man operation.

Mr Buttigieg spoke to WhosWho.mt after publishing a video in which he warned the sub-letting market has become saturated with amateurs.

He said that in recent years, a number of people, including real estate agents, have spotted a money-making opportunity by utilising the rise of platforms like Airbnb.

They would lease out a property, providing the landlord with peace of mind through a fixed and stable rent, and then sub-let that same property on Airbnb for a profit.

However, Mr Buttigieg said that the business involves way more than just handing a tourist the keys to an apartment and that this becomes evident when unexpected problems arise.

“We’re a structured company with our own maintenance people, so if one of our clients’ toilets leaks, we always fix it on the spot,” he said.

“However, if the operator is a one-man-show, the tourist could spend four to five days with a toilet leak. The tourist then posts a bad review online and Malta’s image takes a hit.”

He said that issues also emerge when tourists disrupt neighbours, an issue that received a lot of media coverage last summer when Swieqi residents protested that their town was becoming too chaotic and unlawful.

“Many of these agents are young and probably go out on a weekend night, which is when issues often arise,” he said. “When they don’t answer their phones, it ends up escalating with the police, and the neighbours – who often wouldn’t even know who the sub-letting manager is – end up suffering.”

Mr Buttigieg said that while he isn’t against this sort of sub-letting model in principle, property managers should have the backup to provide a good service.

“Running a short-term rental business requires a fully fledged team based in an office, with proper insurance cover, not a one-man operation,” he said.