Rural Fijians applying for housing assistance scheme to save costs

Rural Fijians applying for the Rural Housing Assistance Scheme can expect to save costs following a decision by Government to reduce the applicants’ one third contribution.

The amendment follows a reduction in building material costs attributed directly to the decrease of VAT from 15% to 9%.

Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management Permanent Secretary, Meleti Bainimarama says the one third contribution of the Rural Housing Assistance Programme is based on the current market price of building materials.

Bainimarama says the previous market price for a 24x16 timber frame rural assistance building was $18,307.19 and applicants had to pay one third contribution of $6,102.43.

He says due to the reduction in VAT from 15 to 9%, the current or new market price has decreased to below $18,000 and they have reduced the one third contribution to below $6,000.

Bainimarama is urging rural Fijians to take advantage of this change.

He adds the slight variation in costs between the divisions is based on the current market price of building materials at the division.