Facts & History of Housing Authority

Established by an Act of Parliament in 1955, The Housing Authority became an operating entity in 1958. The Authority began operation with the development of rental flats and progressed into the development of lots and the designing and building of homes.

In 1996, Housing Authority was declared a Commercial Statutory Authority and is now required to provide returns to Government. The Authority moved away from the designing and building of homes to concentrate on the production of land lots and the provision of financing in 1997.

With the initial vision to provide affordable housing for low-income earners in urban centers who could otherwise be unable to secure a permanent residence for themselves, the Authority has in recent years expanded its services to include mortgage financing for middle to high-income earners.

1958

  • Began operations.
  • Purchase and Home Improved Loans
  • Small program to build small communities

1964

  • Rental accommodation provided.
  • To provide temporary accommodation to those who could not afford loans.

1971

  • Production and sale of serviced sites.

1986

  • 17,000 families (34% of urban population) benefited from housing programs.

1987

  • HA produced about 830 serviced sites. 700 mortgages. 1800 rental flats

1988

  • New policy statement adopted by Board and Government.

1989

  • Public Rental Board was separated from the Housing Authority.

1991

  • Loan agreement signed between Housing Authority, Government, World Bank and Asian Development Section.

1997

  • Out-sourced functions of the Planning and Development section.

1999

  • Reduction of interest rate from 11.5% to 6% for all customers earning below $6,500 annually.

2000

  • Special “Assistance Scheme” to help HA customers who have lost their jobs or reduction in May crisis.

2001

  • Refinanced expensive loans.
  • Moving on Package launched with initial Interest rate of 5.99%.

2002

  • Implementation of more intensive and proactive management controls and introduction of Credit management unit.

2003

  • Celebrated 45 years of Service.
  • Launching of Sapphire Package with initial rate of 4.45%.

2004

  • HA recorded a surplus of $2.7 million. HA awarded Waila 3B project to BW Holding Limited for the development of 466 fully serviced lots.

2005

  • Housing Authority launched the sale of 421 residential lots at its Field 40 subdivision at Lautoka.
  • Civil works at Authority’s Waila 3B subdivision were completed, producing 466 lots.
  • Housing Authority achieved an operating surplus of $2.49m.
  • Housing Authority launched its “Crystal Home Loan Package”, the lowest home loan interest rate in the market – 3.99% fi xed for 18 months; 7.99% variable thereafter.
  • Loans totaling $30.24m loans were granted to 2,232 customers.
  • Non-performing loans were reduced from 16.5% to 14.6% of the total loan portfolio.

2006

  • The Authority’s Waila 3B subdivision at Davuilevu, Nausori with 466 lots was finally completed with approved subdivision plans.
  • In continuing its land development partnership with the Native Land Trust Board, the Authority acquired 114 acres of land near Natadola, Sigatoka to produce about 600 lots to cater for hotel workers at Natadola, Momi Bay and nearby resorts.
  • 448 lots were developed at Field 40 and Natabua subdivisions in Lautoka.
  • The Authority achieved a surplus of $2.28m in comparison to a surplus of $2.49m in the previous year – a decrease of 11.6%.
  • In addition to recording a surplus, the Authority maintained its ‘Crystal Loan Package’ at a fixed interest rate of 3.99 % per annum for 18 months and thereafter, a variable rate of 7.99 % per annum.

2007

  • The Housing Authority acquired 40 acres site near Matavolivoli, Nadi aiming to develop 500 housing lots.
  • The Authority worked together on engineering design for its Tacirua East and Wainibuku subdivisions. A total of 1,293 lots were to be produced in these subdivisions.
  • A surplus of $0.583m was achieved for the year against a budget of $1.0m. The 2007 surplus represents a decrease of 74.99% over the last year’s surplus.
  • Total of 1,837 customers and families were provided new housing and other related financial assistance compared to 2,072 families in 2006.
  • 38 families were assisted under the Home Ownership Plan scheme for them to retain their family homes in the sum of $0.60m from the Government grant compared to 11 families in the sum of $0.15m in 2006.

2008

  • The Government had successfully negotiated a $50 million soft loan from Chinese Exim Bank for the Authority to develop its Tacirua East Stage 2 and Nepani Stage 2 subdivisions at Nasinu to produce a total of 1050 lots and 350 housing units on completion of these two subdivisions.
  • The Housing Authority also completed development of its Namosau subdivision in Ba and a total of 84 lots were produced.
  • In 2008, the Authority recorded a surplus of $1.559m in comparison to a surplus of $583,000 last year – an increase of 167.4 %.
  • Also, in the same year the Authority approved a total loan of $15.5m to 1,203 customers and its total loan portfolio stood at $142.7m as at the end of the year.
  • Housing Authority marked 50 years in Fiji.
  • The Authority’s Land and Housing Division was re-established.

 2009

  • One of the major land development projects that was the highlight of 2009 was the development of the Wainibuku residential subdivision.
  • Development work continued at the Tacirua East Stage 2 and Nepani Stage 2 subdivisions.
  • The Authority recorded a profit of $0.548m for the year 2009 which compared to the previous year represented a decrease in profits by 64.8%.
  • The Housing Authority continued to subsidize the interest rate of 2% on housing loans for all low-income earning customers from un-utilized Government Grants from past years.
  • Additionally customers under the Housing Authority’s Village Housing Scheme, whose annual household income did not exceed $6,500, also had interest on their loan accounts subsidized by 2%.
  • The Authority’s newly renovated Valelevu House was officially opened.

2010

  • One of the major projects that was in the pipeline in 2010 was the Waila Housing City, which was said to be the third city for Fiji.
  • The Authority recorded a profit of $0.954m for the year 2010 which compared to the previous year represented an increase in profits by 42.55%.
  • The Housing Authority continued to subsidize the interest rate of 2% on housing loans for all low-income earning customers from unutilized Government Grants from past years.

2011

  • The Waila City development project was launched by the Housing Authority in January.
  • The project aimed to produce a total of at least 5000 housing units for all categories of low, middle and high-income earners.
  • In 2011, despite slow growth and recovery from the world recessions and economic downturns, the Authority achieved a profit of $0.389m against a budget of $0.836m.

2012

  • The first phase of completed lots for the Tacirua East Stage 2 subdivision was officially launched in May.
  • A contract was awarded to B.W Holdings Limited to develop a further 261 residential lots at Wainibuku subdivision. The subdivision is located on 41 acres of crown lease land.
  • Housing Authority recorded a profit of $441,000 compared to $389,000 for last year. This reflects an increase of 13 percent from the previous year, 2011
  • A total of 236 families nationwide were assisted under the social housing policy.

2013

  • The Authority continued to acquire more land for development and in 2013; land owning units were approached to acquire some suitable land for development in Lauwai, Veiseisei, Lomolomo in the West and Nadali in the Central Division. These Acquisitions ensure that adequate land provisions have been planned for to sustain our land bank for future developments.
  • Work on Wainibuku project continued.
  • For the year 2013, despite the year’s challenges, Housing Authority recorded a profit of $423,000 compared to $523,000 for previous year (decrease of 19 percent).
  • A total of 309 families nationwide were assisted under the Social Housing Policy.

2014

  • The Tacirua East Stage II Subdivision continued to be the Authority’s landmark mixed development subdivision.
  • The Wainibuku Subdivision is another land development project that was earmarked for release in 2014.
  • The much awaited Waila City subdivision was still in the pipeline.
  • In the Western division, the Matavolivoli Stage II subdivision will be the latest new land development project for the Western Division. The Authority advertised for Expression of Interest for the development of this land that will see the delievery of 420 residential lots.
  • In 2014, Housing Authority registered a profit of $981,000 compared to the $217,000 in 2013.
  • A total of 19 families and 7 village scheme accounts were assisted under the Social Housing policy with assistance totaling $24, 799.19.
  • The Authority successfully negotiated a $25m loan facility with the Reserve Bank of Fiji with interest rate of 1%. Through this loan facility the Authority was able to assist customers via its Gold Package and later the Toso Mai Package.

2015

  • To facilitate the huge demand, negotiations were underway for 131 acres land at Davuilevu and 119 acres land at Veikoba in Nasinu.
  • A profit of $2.234m was achieved for the year against a budget of $2.103m. Compared to the 2014 financial year the 2015 profit represents an increase of 128%.
  • 730 New Loans totaling $22.89m were granted in 2015 compared to $12.08m in 2014.
  • The Housing Authority assisted a further thirty (30) customers to retain their homes under its Social Housing Policy utilising $0.201m in Government Grant and $0.272m of its own funds.

2016

  • The delivery of a total of 263 fully serviced lots in Wainibuku is one of the major achievement for the Housing Authority in 2016. These are for both Phase 1 and 2 subdivisions which are inclusive of a religious lot and commercial lot and 17 lots reserved for strata unit construction.
  • Koronisalusalu in Tavua, Tavakubu in Lautoka and Waqadra projects were earmarked to commence preliminary development phases in 2016.
  • In 2016, the Authority recorded a surplus of $1.473m in comparison to a surplus of $2.234m in 2015 a decrease of 34%.
  • The Authority maintained its variable interest rate of 7.50% per annum for home loans. In 2016, a total of 771 loans were approved at the value of $32,222,003.

2017

  • 113 customers received offer letters to purchase housing lot at the Tacirua subdivision.
  • The ground breaking ceremony for the Tavakubu residential subdivision also took place later in the year. Following the completion of the development work, 534 residential lots will be available for potential buyers.
  • The ground breaking ceremony for the Davuilevu residential subdivision was also officiated in December, 2017. Over 750 residential lots will be sold to customers in Davuilevu, once the project is completed.
  • The Authority’s Home Loan package is 3.95 % for the first year, 4.20 % for the next 48 months and variable interest rate thereafter at 6.99 %.

2018

  • The ground breaking ceremony for the Koronisalusalu residential project in Tavua took place earlier 2018.
  • The Housing Authority called for Expression of Interest for the Covata Project in Labasa.

2019

  1. HA continued its services with the introduction of Totoka dina packages. Packages included TD1,TD2TD3 and TD4.
  2. Totoka Dina One (TD1) – Income Below $30k per annum “3.95% – First 60 months 6.25% – Variable thereafter”
  3. Totoka Dina Two (TD2) – Income between $30k to $50k “3.95% – First 12 months 20% – Next 48 months 6.99% – Variable thereafter”
  4. Totoka Dina Three (TD3) – Income above $50k 6.99% – Variable rate “Totoka Dina Four (TD4)
  5. Existing customers taking further loan””4.75% – First 12 months 6.99% – Variable thereafter”
  6. HOUSING AUTHORITY signs MOU with FRCS and PRB Housing Authority of Fiji signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. The signing encouraged its relationship and mutual cooperation in the area of information sharing.

2020

  • The TOTOKA package continues and there are still lots of applications coming to HA.
  • Housing Authority Pays Out $396,000, Since its inception to date, 52 homeowners have had successful medical treatment overseas.
  • HA welcomed it’s new CEO and board member’s.
  • A public inquiry committee is appointed for a public consultation
  • Special Purpose Audit and Public Inquiry- The Housing Authority of Fiji has engaged the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to carry out a Special Purpose Audit on lot allocation for the past ten (10) years, and report its findings to the Board of Directors. The Housing Authority of Fiji Board Chairperson Ms. Lorraine Seeto said that due to numerous complaints received by the Ministry of Housing and Community Development and the Housing Authority of Fiji with regards to allocation of lots, it was crucial that they engage the Office of the Auditor General.The Housing Authority of Fiji Board Chairperson Ms. Lorraine Seeto said that due to numerous complaints received by the Ministry of Housing and Community Development and the Housing Authority of Fiji with regards to allocation of lots, it was crucial that they engage the Office of the Auditor General.Some of the criteria that the audit will focus on are:  Verification of information and declarations provided by all recipients of lots during the Period with their applications against Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), Titles Office;
    • Review and confirm that lots allocated to applicants having an annual household income exceeding Fifty Thousand Fijian Dollars (F$50,000.00) were duly endorsed by the Board and approved by the Minister, where applicable, in line with the Housing Act of 1955;
    • Review of any lots allotted to current or ex Housing Authority Staff, their families during the Period and to review such transactions to assess the transparency and appropriate declaration of conflicting interests by the relevant staff including the Board.
  • COVATA STAGE 2 SUB-DIVISION CONTRACT SIGNING
  • Merger between Housing Authority and Public Rental Board, The plan merging with PRB (Public Rental Board) as part of the Authorities reforms will allow for diversification in sharing knowledge and also increasing productivity. This would ensure for a one stop shop where information is received from a one single super network.
  • Although all is going well so far everything is about to come to a halt!
  • A global pandemic has hit the world and has impacted the nation as a whole.
  • The spread of the corona virus has impacted the lives of people.
  • There is an increase number of cases and deaths around the world.
  • There a job losses, closure of companies and people are panic buying to survive.
  • Reduced working hours has led to a curfew put in place by the government, people are told to stay at home and stay safe from the virus.
  • Fiji has recorded its first case and there is panic amongst citizens of Fiji, there is panic buying everywhere.
  • Staff of HA are told to take 2 weeks off to be safe from this virus, only essential workers are working.
  • The Housing Authority will provide assistance to affected customers with any one of the following relief packages, on a case by case basis:
    • 1. 3 months’ loan repayment holiday; or,
    • 2. Extension of loan term without fees; or,
    • 3. Interest only repayment; or,
    • 4. 3 months’ loan repayment holiday with extension of loan term.
  • To date we still have a curfew in place from 4am – 11pm as we still have active cases in the country.