The Consumer Council of Fiji received 470 complaints regarding Landlord and tenancy issues in 2016-17.

Today such issues are the highest on their listing.

Consumer Council Chief Executive Seema Shandil says the complaints range from non-refund of bonds to clauses in certain agreements not allowing tenants to have visitors.

Shandil says at the present time, rents are at their highest and many properties are in really bad condition.

“Yes the conditions of some flats are really bad, you know there are issues and at the same time, the owners are not attending to the complaints when there is maintenance or repairing required. Yes, we cannot force the owners to improve the conditions but we try to bring this to their attention so that they can bring about improvements.”

Shandil says landlords often fail to maintain the properties or answer tenants complaints adding that it can be difficult to address these issues because the demand for flats to rent is high and many tenants are willing to settle for anything.