"What is also happening is people who are building new flats know that they can't increase rent in the next two years, they start with a very high rate so all those new flats that come into the new market start with a high rate," he said.
Jese Ligaiviu during the National Budget Consultation at the Sugar Cane Growers Council Hall in Lautoka on May 31, 2023.
Government worker Jese Ligaiviu says lifting the rent freeze policy will negatively impact low-income earning families.
This was his submission during the National Budget consultation chaired by the Minister for Finance Biman Prasad at the Sugar Cane Growers Council Hall in Lautoka on Wednesday.
Mr Ligaiviu pleaded with Government to ensure the policy remained. Mr Prasad said the rent freeze policy was put in place in 2007 and there could be different effects resulting from this decision.
However, he said Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) was reviewing it.
“What is also happening is people who are building new flats know that they can’t increase rent in the next two years, they start with a very high rate so all those new flats that come into the new market start with a high rate,” he said.
“So it’s actually not helping the tenants who pay a much higher rent because of how the people interpret rent freeze.
He said there were some incentives being generated as a result of the rent freeze by the FCCC.
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