Government will assist with the relocation of 114 Public Rental Board tenants at Mead Road, Suva after the buildings were deemed structurally unsafe.
During a consultation with tenants, the Public Rental Board and Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa explained that the flats, built over 50 years ago, had exceeded their design lifespan and were no longer safe for long-term occupancy.
“The PRB units and blocks were not meant for long-term residents,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“We engaged two engineers to assess the structural integrity of all these buildings, and we were advised that it is no longer safe for tenants to continue living in them.”
He said the Government would work closely with residents to relocate families, including moving tenants to Nasinu, Nepani, and to assist them in finding land and building their own homes.
Mr Nalumisa said any new tenants of PRB will now be granted a maximum of six years tenancy.
“All (future) tenants are encouraged to use the six-year timeframe to secure land and access Government housing assistance schemes, as well as applications to the iTaukei Land Trust Board.”
He added that the Mead Road flats would eventually be demolished to make way for a new PRB residential development, and a scheme would be introduced to help tenants purchase land and construct houses, with efforts to fast-track applications.
