Tenants of the Public Rental Board’s (PRB) Mead Rd flats are being asked to relocate following the discovery of serious structural defects that render the buildings unsafe for continued occupation. The PRB estate, home to hundreds of Fijians for decades, has been identified as earthquake-prone, with engineering assessments warning that the buildings could collapse without notice.
PRB general manager Timoci Naleba said the board was acting in the interest of residents’ safety. “The Public Rental Board (PRB) wishes to update the community on the situation at the Mead Rd flats in Suva,” he said.
“We understand the concerns of residents and neighbours, and we are providing this information to ensure transparency and public safety.”
Structural safety concerns at Mead Rd flats
The Mead Rd flats, built in 1965, are now over 60 years old. An engineering assessment carried out in 2024 revealed that the buildings were structurally unsound and at high-risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake.
“The PRB flats on Mead Rd suffer from severe structural problems that make them unsafe for habitation,” Mr Naleba said.
“In particular, all the suspended concrete floor slabs lack proper reinforcement and are at high-risk of sudden collapse under load.
“The buildings’ seismic strength was determined to be less than 20 per cent of the current new-building standard, classifying them as Class E earthquake-prone structures that are not fit for occupancy.”
He said the absence of proper floor-to-wall connections, or diaphragms, exacerbated the risk.
“In a serious earthquake, the floors could give way, potentially leading to catastrophic collapse of the entire building.
“The flats do not meet modern safety codes and pose an unacceptable risk to residents’ lives.”
Discovery of the unsafe condition
PRB proactively commissioned a detailed structural review of the estate in mid-2024 after concerns about the integrity of the buildings surfaced.
Professional engineers from Permal Consultants were engaged on July 30, 2024 to inspect and assess the flats.
Mr Naleba said in September 2024, a thorough structural assessment was conducted on site, revealing critical weaknesses in the building’s design.
“The initial evaluation, following New Zealand and Fiji seismic guidelines, showed the buildings achieved well under 33 per cent of the required New Building Standard (NBS), indicating a serious earthquake risk.
“By early 2025, the final structural report confirmed the situation was even more dire: the seismic rating is below 20 per cent NBS, confirming that the buildings are high-risk and unsafe for occupancy.”
He added that PRB immediately recognised that the flats could not continue to be occupied safely, prompting the current relocation and closure plan.
Tenants’ deep ties to the estate
The Mead Rd estate has been home to multiple generations of Fijian families. Some tenants have lived in the flats for over 50 years, forming strong emotional and community ties to the property.
“We understand the strong attachment tenants have to the site, having lived there for many years,” Mr Naleba said.
“Unfortunately, they have to vacate the building for their own safety.”
He said at present, approximately 147 families were still residing in the estate.
“The estate originally housed about 144-147 households across its blocks, and nearly all of these tenants remain on site while relocation efforts are in progress.
“In other words, only a very small number of families have left so far, and the vast majority of residents are still living in the flats as of this update.
“PRB understands that these families have deep ties to their homes, and we emphasise that we are working diligently to relocate everyone safely given the urgent structural risks.”
Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa also reminded tenants of their responsibilities as renters.
“So, if you’re living in a flat at some of these Public Rental Board estates, it’s not your property,” he said.
“What we encourage now is to people to look somewhere else, but at the same time, we are also coming up with some other options at the PRB, where while you stay, you can also rent to own, where you can later acquire some of the flats that you are living or staying in right now.
“These are some of the arrangements to promote home ownership in PRB estates.”
Relocation efforts underway
Relocating residents from Mead Rd is a complex process, requiring coordination between PRB, government agencies, and tenants themselves.
“Relocation of tenants from Mead Rd has begun, but it is an ongoing process and has so far reached only a fraction of the households,” Mr Naleba said.
“Current relocation arrangements include:
• Transfers to other PRB housing: Fourteen families have moved to other PRB rental flats in safer locations, with two additional families awaiting relocation.
• Moves to HART homes: Seven families are relocating to Housing Assistance and Relief Trust (HART) community homes.
• Return to villages: Nine families have chosen to return to their home villages in rural areas.
• Housing Authority of Fiji applications: Around four households have applied for new housing lots or homes through the Housing Authority and are awaiting confirmation.
• Independent relocation: Only one family has independently moved out so far.”
He said each relocating household was being handled on a case-by-case basis to match them with the most suitable solution.
“PRB, along with government partners, is facilitating these moves logistically and financially where needed.
“We acknowledge that the numbers are still small relative to the total households, but relocation efforts are accelerating as we approach the closure of the Mead Rd property.”
Timeline for vacating
The original target for vacating the flats was December 31, 2025.
Mr Naleba emphasised that support will continue for all remaining tenants beyond that date.
“No one will be left without a home on January 1, 2026.
“All remaining tenants are expected to relocate as soon as alternate housing is arranged for them, and the process will continue in January 2026, and further if necessary, until every family has moved out.
“We are prioritising safety, so while the official vacate date was the end of 2025, tenants will not be abandoned if they need a little more time to move.
“Our latest update is that roughly 100 families still need to move, and PRB, with government support, is actively assisting them to do so in the coming weeks.”
Housing Minister Maciu Nalumisa also stressed the importance of tenants understanding the risk.
“They (PRB) have been advised that those structures are structurally unsafe, so it’s their responsibility to discuss with the tenants, and tenants need to understand this,” he said.
“If they have been given time, they should have looked for options to relocate themselves. If something happens tomorrow, who will be responsible?
“As it is, the liability rests with the Public Rental Board.”
Safety measures
PRB has warned that power and water services will be disconnected at the end of the month to prevent accidents should the buildings collapse.
“In any form of catastrophic event, we are shutting the power and water down,” Mr Naleba said.
“In case anyone is still there at night, and the building falls while there is electricity and water, the survivor might touch a live wire, or they could even drown if trapped.
“All first responders, when they arrive, would also be at risk. To protect everyone, we are cutting off electricity and water because the building can fall any time, even during the night.”
Tenants had been informed through their Viber group, and PRB encouraged residents to co-operate fully with relocation officers.
Guidance and support for tenants
PRB is offering advice and assistance to ensure tenants relocate safely.
Mr Naleba urged tenants to engage with relocation officers, explore available housing options, and make use of government support programs.
“Tenants should attend all meetings and consultations organised by PRB or the Ministry of Housing.
“Explore the alternative housing solutions being offered, whether transferring to another PRB flat, moving to a HART home, or returning to your village.”
Plans for the site
Mr Naleba said once the flats were vacated, PRB plans to demolish the old structures.
“Given the extent of structural defects, engineers have advised that the safest solution is to demolish the old flat blocks entirely and potentially rebuild from scratch.”
He said the redevelopment would be determined through further assessments and stakeholder consultations.
“Our intention is, in line with our mandate to provide affordable housing, to redevelop the location with new, safe housing once feasible.
“Constructing a new residential building of similar size, built to modern standards with a minimum 50-year design lifespan, would be the best long-term solution. However, no final decision has been made yet.”
PRB’s commitment
Mr Naleba acknowledged the disruption this process caused for tenants.
“Many of these residents have lived here for decades, and we do not take lightly the impact of relocating them. However, the safety of our tenants is non-negotiable.
“Structural engineers made it clear that the buildings posed a serious danger – a risk of sudden collapse in a strong earthquake – and we simply cannot gamble with people’s lives in an unsafe building.”
He said PRB was working closely with the Ministry of Housing and other government agencies to ensure every family was provided with safe accommodation.
“Funds have been set aside to assist with relocation needs, and additional resources have been requested to ensure no one is left homeless.”
Tenant co-operation and community support
Finally, Mr Naleba thanked tenants for their patience and co-operation.
“We understand the anxiety and inconvenience this process has caused, and we sincerely appreciate the community’s collaboration in relocating for the sake of safety.
“PRB will continue to communicate openly with all stakeholders as we progress with the relocations and site plans.
“Our priority is, and will always be, the safety and well-being of the families in our care.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that each family from Mead Rd finds a secure place to live and that the community can look forward to a safer housing environment in the near future.”
