Residents living in a six-flat commercial lot in Lajonia, Labasa, are expressing their distress over a lack of basic services, claiming their living conditions have become increasingly untenable and unsafe. Among the affected tenants, Sova Tauyavu has highlighted the dire situation that six families, including children, have faced for the past ten months without adequate water supply.
Tauyavu described the absence of proper plumbing as a significant challenge, stating, “It’s been ten months now that we have not had any water. We all have children, students, and people who wake up early for work. Water is a basic need for us, and not having it has been a big challenge.” He also raised concerns about electrical safety, mentioning that the flats share a single meter box, which poses risks when heavy appliances are used as it can trip the system, potentially leading to fire hazards.
The tenants are paying $250 a month in rent, but Tauyavu indicated that the poor conditions—such as missing flooring—have made the flats unsafe for living. He asserts that having a single meter for all six flats is unlawful. Despite a promise from their landlord, Bobby Lal, to address the issues, there has been little visible action towards repairs.
In response, Lal has placed blame on the tenants, stating that they have damaged pipes and are unwilling to cover repair costs. “Receiving water is an issue because they have damaged the connection pipes. I have been asking them to pay for the repair costs, but they are not,” Lal said. He claims that despite supplying water, there is only one meter serving all rental units.
This week, authorities from the Ministry of Health and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission visited the site to assess the living conditions. The situation has escalated, with a 30-day eviction notice issued to the tenants, who are now anxiously awaiting results from Energy Fiji Limited, the Water Authority of Fiji, and other regulatory bodies. These entities are expected to investigate potential breaches of housing standards and other illegal practices.
While the situation appears serious, the engagement of authorities indicates a proactive approach to ensuring tenant welfare and potentially resolving the ongoing crisis.
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