The Public Rental Board (PRB) of Fiji has stated that it lacks the legal authority to verify whether tenants are genuinely low-income earners, even in cases where indications suggest they may own businesses. In an interview, PRB’s CEO, Timoci Naleba, explained that although the board requests salary declarations during the application process, conducting a formal means test to identify other sources of income is currently beyond their mandate.
Naleba clarified that while they depend on the documentation submitted by tenants—such as payslips and tax confirmations—they cannot investigate further even if they receive credible information indicating that tenants might have additional financial resources. This statement comes amid claims that a foreign businessman has been residing in two flats at the PRB’s Raiwai flats for over six years and owns a business in Vatuwaqa. Naleba confirmed that the businessman was evicted last year, and the current occupant is an employee of the businessman.
Moreover, Naleba described actions taken last year when another tenant running a taxi business—who had access to three taxis—was also removed from the housing unit, underlining the board’s intention of ensuring fairness in tenant eligibility. He expressed that the PRB’s primary focus is not to penalize tenants striving to improve their lives through small businesses, but highlighted the critical need for fairness and transparency in allocations.
Housing Minister Maciu Nalumisa weighed in on the issue, advocating for the board to gain the necessary authority to conduct investigations into household income sources. He strongly supports the idea that the PRB should have the capability to scrutinize tenants’ finances more thoroughly.
In light of the ongoing dialogue, there is a sense of optimism that potential legal changes could enable the PRB to enforce stricter regulations regarding tenant income validation. This approach is viewed as essential in ensuring affordable housing is appropriately allocated to those who genuinely need it, addressing systemic issues of housing inequality that have been prevalent in Fiji.
As the PRB works towards reforming its policies and reinforcing its commitments to equitable housing practices, it hopes to provide better services for those who truly require assistance, fostering a more stable living environment for vulnerable families across the nation.
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