MARAIA VULA
NASINU
” The guideline contains disclosures, tenancy agreement, reservation fees & rental bond, records keeping, rent increase, access & renovations, electricity & water ”
The Fiji Commerce Commission will enforce the Self-Regulating Guidelines for Landlords and Tenants on May 1.
Commission chairman, Dr Mahendra Reddy, said: “The guideline gives overall conduct of all stakeholders involved in the provision and use of rented properties in Fiji.
“This includes the landlords, tenants and their agents. We look forward to their full cooperation and require all stakeholders to examine this guideline and ensure full compliance by the end of April.”
Dr Reddy said the commission received numerous complaints over the past four years from landlords and tenants in regards to the manner both parties conduct transactions.
He highlighted the number of formal complaints on tenancy issues between 2010 and 2013 processed by the commission was around 975.
“In the same period, a total of 1115 informal complaints and queries were recorded for the Central-Eastern division alone,” he said.
“From the cases received, majority were exposed because of lack of understanding on one or both parties on the relevant issues attached to tenancies.
“Issues like failure to issue receipts and tenancy agreements, refusal by the landlord’s to release the bond money citing own conditions and assessment of the property and many others.
“However failure to comply to the guideline will result in appropriate measures being taken under the Commerce Commission Decree 2010.”
Feedback: maraiavula@fijisun.com.fj