Mixed Feedback on Rent Freeze
Mr Prasad believes that maintaining a rent freeze for 15 or 16 years is not a good policy, as new economic challenges and changes were not critically considered.
There have been mixed feelings from the public concerning the policy.proposed removal of rent freeze Earlier this year, the Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, said changes may be made to the policy, which has been in place since 2007.
The rent applicable to a property is based on the time it became the base rent, which was maintained by the rent freeze order when it was originally put into effect on March 2, 2007. On December 30, 2021, the previous administration extended the rent freeze decree.
Mr Prasad believes that maintaining a rent freeze for 15 or 16 years is not a good policy, as new economic challenges and changes were not critically considered.
Recently, staff of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission conducted a door-to-door survey to collect feedback from landlords and residents.
During the survey, Dorah Yaviong, a student at the Fiji Medical School, said the proposed change was “bad.” Ms Yaviong, who is from Vanuatu and has been renting for four years, acknowledged the economic reasoning behind the proposed change, but believes it would create more burden for families.
Vaturogo Laliqavoka, a 22-year-old civil engineering student at the University of the South Pacific who rents a flat with her friends, shares Ms Yaviong’s sentiments.
“I think it’s ridiculous. We are students, and if the landlord decides to change the rent, it will affect us. We sometimes have no money,” Ms Laliqavoka said.
She added that most students are on the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme, and the maximum rent allowance is $250.
She currently rents a flat for $200, which is within walking distance from the USP Laucala campus. However, a landlord who spoke on the condition of anonymity believes that the proposed change is good news. He said landlords and residential property owners have suffered for 16 years due to inflation and economic struggles.
The landlord welcomed the proposed change.