We did not sell a woman's house in Labasa - TLTB

The iTaukei Land Trust Board has refused claims by a Labasa woman that her house was sold by TLTB.

A woman had told Minister for Housing, Parveen Bala during a consultation in Vunivau, Labasa that she was not able to pay rent and TLTB had sold her house.

She says because of that she had been staying with her brother for the past 8 years.

TLTB General Manager Tevita Kuruvakadua says the woman was a TLTB tenant who breached her lease terms and conditions which required her to pay her rent on time.

Kuruvakadua says as part of TLTB’s internal process, she was asked to pay her rent within a set time frame and given reminder notices to make payment or make arrangements to pay in part which she didn’t do.

He says it is the legal responsibility of TLTB to collect rent and distribute them to the landowners.

Kuruvakadua says when landowners are not paid their dues, TLTB does not have a choice but to take the woman to court for non‑payment of leases in which a court order was given in 2010 for the house to be dismantled and the land vacated as it was in arrears.

Kuruvakadua says the woman lost her right to the land because of her breach of the terms and conditions of the lease.

He says this is why it is important that once a lease is given, tenants must comply to the terms and conditions of the lease including the timely payment of land rent.

The woman was one of the 773 people who received 99 year land leases.