The Ministry of Housing in Fiji is advising potential home buyers to be extremely cautious when considering properties in informal settlements. The Ministry highlighted that while these areas may provide lower-cost housing options, they often lack essential infrastructure, legal protections, and pose significant eviction and development risks.
The statement emphasized that properties in informal settlements are usually located on land that is not legally owned or leased, rendering any transactions highly insecure. Residents in these areas could face eviction without warning, exposing them to substantial financial losses and displacement.
Furthermore, these settlements frequently lack access to basic utilities such as electricity, water, and sanitation, which can severely affect residents’ quality of life and health.
There have been multiple reports of unwary home buyers who have invested considerable amounts in properties within these settlements, only to subsequently face denial of ownership and eviction. One such case involved an individual who purchased a home in an informal settlement for $10,000 in cash. Despite the full payment, this buyer received no official ownership documentation, and the original landowner has now emerged, denying knowledge of the sale and asking the buyer to vacate the premises.
The Ministry strongly recommends that potential home buyers focus on properties in established, legally recognized neighborhoods, as these offer more security, stability, and access to essential services.