8,833 out of 39,000 TLTB tenants not paying rent on time

8,833 tenants out of the 39,000 iTaukei Land Trust Board tenants are not paying their rent on time and are now in arrears.

The total rent arrears by TLTB tenants now stands at $14.2 million and appropriate action is being taken.

It has been confirmed that eleven iTaukei land leases will soon be terminated and tenants evicted by TLTB in Lautoka as a result of a court order issued by the Lautoka Magistrates Court for non‑payment of land rent.

TLTB General Manager Tevita Kuruvakadua said arrears or the non‑payment of lease rentals has always been a major area of concern for TLTB.

The 11 tenants have been ordered out of their leases by the Lautoka Magistrates Court with unpaid rent and interest ranging from $1,000 to $17,000.

Kuruvakadua advised the 8,833 tenants who are not paying their rent that TLTB will come after you.

He said they will now visit rent defaulters starting in Lautoka and remove them from their leases.

The TLTB General Manager said if they want to avoid undue hardships especially for their families, payment arrangements with the Arrears or Legal Teams can be done.

Kuruvakadua said once the court is engaged and judgement is made for evictions, then it is difficult to assist the tenants at that stage.

He revealed that TLTB is targeting a 60% recovery of its $20.7 million arrears in 2015 and the only option now is to take them all to court to fulfill the trustee obligation for the benefit of the landowners.