Forty one landlords have been taken to court for illegally increasing rent on residential properties despite the rent freeze.

Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Chief Executive, Joel Abraham says they have received one hundred and sixty-six complaints relating to residential rental issues.

Three landlords have also been fined two thousand dollars.

“We have undertaken 166 inspections out of which 41 matters have been taken to court. This has been for different things such as illegal increase of rent, failure to keep receipts, failure to have agreements so FCCC has been conducting its monitoring efforts are ongoing. We have charged some people. We have got more than sufficient evidence.”

In one particular matter, a landlord has been charged in three separate cases.

The maximum penalty for such offences is $10,000 for a first offender and $100,000 for a second or subsequent offender or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.

The FCCC is encouraging Fijians to lodge their complaints if they know their landlords have illegally increased rent on the property.