The Housing Authority (HA) has warned homeowners in its housing projects that storing large quantities of fuel at their properties may breach national regulations and leave them exposed to safety hazards and uninsured losses. In a statement released on Monday, the authority reminded mortgagors covered by its Group Property Insurance policy that the insurer’s protection is limited to normal household fuel use and does not extend to properties where fuel is held in excessive amounts.
HA chief executive officer Isikeli Navuda emphasised the safety and legal dimensions of the advisory. “The safety of our customers and their homes is our top priority,” Navuda said. “We urge all homeowners to avoid storing fuel beyond normal household needs. Excessive storage increases risk and may affect insurance claims. We encourage everyone to follow safety guidelines to protect their families and investments.”
The statement specifically pointed to guidance from the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Consumer Council of Fiji that storing large quantities of fuel at residential premises can run afoul of national regulations. HA warned that insurance claims could be rejected if excessive fuel storage contributes to damage or loss, making compliance with both safety protocols and legal obligations essential for homeowners under its mortgage arrangements.
HA’s Group Property Insurance covers homes mortgaged to the authority, but the policy’s protections are framed around “normal household use” of combustible liquids, the authority said. While the statement did not quantify what constitutes “excessive” storage, it urged customers to keep fuel quantities to those necessary for everyday domestic purposes and to ensure all storage meets applicable safety standards and statutory requirements.
The advisory comes as part of HA’s broader risk-management communications to its clients and follows increased public scrutiny from consumer watchdogs about household fuel handling. For mortgaged homeowners, the warning serves as a reminder that acts taken on private property — such as stockpiling fuel — can have legal and financial consequences if they lead to fire, explosion or other damage that insurers deem outside the scope of covered perils.
HA did not provide details on claims that had been denied on the basis of excessive fuel storage, nor did it announce new changes to its insurance policy wording. Instead, the authority framed the message as preventive: urging adherence to recognised safety practices and legal requirements to reduce the chance of harm and preserve eligibility for insurance payouts.
Homeowners with questions about what quantities and storage methods are permissible were encouraged to consult HA’s policy documentation and the regulatory guidance issued by consumer protection and competition bodies. The authority reiterated that complying with safety guidelines is intended to safeguard households and the wider community from the heightened risks associated with large-scale fuel storage.
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