Minister for Housing Premila Kumar says Public Rental Board (PRB) tenants who paid advance rent should be able to access their money if they are facing hardship.
She assured PRB tenants she would consult the board over their access to advance rent.
Ms Kumar made the comment in the wake of concerns raised by tenants during a talanoa session in Labasa this week. Tenants claimed they could no longer access surplus rent they had paid which was held by the PRB.
Wati Kakaivalu, a tenant, told Ms Kumar that over the past years, they were able to access funds from the advance rent they paid to PRB.
She explained to Ms Kumar the advance rent was not related to their bond.
“Some of us pay advance rent and we have been told that when we need to withdraw a certain amount from this surplus, we could do so because it’s our own money,” Ms Kakaivalu said.
“We have been doing that over the past few years but when we tried this year, we were told that the board has decided not to release any of our advanced rent because of COVID-19.
“I needed part of my surplus to prepare my daughter for boarding school after the COVID-19 break ended.”
Ms Kakaivalu asked Ms Kumar if Government could assist in the matter. In response, the minister said the board should not withhold any surplus money that belonged to PRB tenants.
“That’s your money and you should get it. I don’t understand why the board is not releasing it,” she said.
“I will check with the board and the PRB team.”
