The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is currently carrying out a market study on how to phase out the rent freeze that’s been in place for quite some time now.
Chief Executive Joel Abraham says despite the rent freeze order in place, they have received four hundred and forty-five complaints on illegal rent increase since last year.
“The whole idea is to ensure that people if and when the rent freeze is removed people don’t get disadvantaged so if you are staying in a property and paying $500 now if the rent freeze is removed tomorrow the landlord can raise it to $1000. You can’t do anything about it so the legislation that we worked on the landlords and tenants act there is a portion on fair rent section to say what the fair rental should be of a particular place.”
He adds out of the four hundred and forty-five complaints on illegal rent increase, thirty one cases are before the court.
The Commission will soon establish an e-registration system to allow landlords to register their properties and assist them to determine the fair rental price.
