A strict allocation policy will see all new Public Rental Board (PRB) units at Lagilagi Housing, Jittu Estate, Raiwaqa, reserved exclusively for residents of the settlement, as Government moves to tighten eligibility criteria, strengthen affordability and prioritise existing occupants.
PRB general manager Timoci Naleba said the move corrected past practices and ensures housing benefits remain within the community as new developments are delivered.
“The people who will come and occupy the new place will be from Jittu (Estate),” he said.
He confirmed selection of occupants was yet to be carried out.
“They are going to be, we have learned from the past and we think that it is going to be a process for them to be able to occupy the new flats with the culture of being able to pay, and look for financial institutions and other methodologies so that they don’t lose their flats when they agree to buy the flats.”
Mr Naleba said the project, valued at about $3 million, had been heavily subsidised to keep housing affordable for low-income earners.
“The estimated cost is about $3 million. Most of the cost was on civil works. However, the market prices for this is $210,000.
“But we would subsidise it and make sure that the homes are affordable.”
He said eligibility criteria remains strict.
“The threshold here is $30,000 and below, collective income.”
On future developments, Mr Naleba revealed “we expect to build another 24 flats”.
He also said occupants would be offered structured pathways to ownership.
“Yes, there are opportunities for them to either rent to own or purchase outright.”
Mr Naleba further confirmed enforcement action on Mead Rd Housing in Nabua.
“But we have asked the court to execute a judgement so that they can be removed from the various flats that they are in right now.”
