An investigation is underway into a caretaker and a landlord in Suva after an advertisement was put up outside a property seeking tenants of a particular ethnic group.

Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Chief Executive Joel Abraham says this is illegal and charges will be laid if the law has been breached.

“The landlord had said that I only want particular ethnic group to be given access to my property or to be allowed to rent. It’s a violation of the constitutional right of people from any other ethnic group that would want to get the premises for rent.”

Abraham says there are ways landlords can deal with tenants if there are any disputes however, housing discrimination should not be tolerated.

“People have come to me and have said that the law favor the tenants, it does not, they are provisions available for the landlords as well and we have been undertaking the review of the landlords and tenants act to ensure that we get the fragmented laws in one place and work has been done on that.”

The Commission will work with the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to ensure Fijians are offered goods and services in a fair and just manner.