The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has charged 40 landlords for not following the rent freeze that is currently in place.

In a statement, the FCCC says these landlords illegally increased rent in residential properties and failed to keep proper records of receipts.

The commission is also urging Fijians to report such behavior from landlords if they come across any.

The maximum penalties 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 rent freeze order came into effect 12 years ago to counter inflation and to protect consumers ensuring affordable residential housing opportunities.

Rent freeze was incepted in 2007 and has been extended in the past years.