A database of all landlords and tenants in Fiji will be set up for the first time as a result of the formulation of new laws to govern the relationship between the two parties.
Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said the database will be linked up to the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority and will help in tracking down tenants or landlords who violate rental agreements.
“At the moment we don’t have data on all tenants and landlords in Fiji so that is another thing we need to do that is to get in the legislation that will empower the commission to have a database on landlords and tenants in collaboration with FIRCA as well,” Dr Reddy said.
“There needs to be a system which will be linked up with FIRCA as well, not only for landlords but for tenants as well so that when tenants leave without paying rent then we can use this information with FIRCA to trace these people and bill them so that landlords are not deprived of a source of income they truly deserve.”
Attorney General and Minister for Justice Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the introduction of new laws will create more interest in investment in the house rental sector.
“The idea is once we have a transparent system in place it also encourages people to invest in the residential market because they know exactly what the rules of the game are and similarly does provide protection for tenants and landlords.”