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Long-Term Accommodation

 

There is a good wide range of accommodation in Suva: small to very large individual houses with gardens; houses divided into flats; and apartment buildings.  Some houses and apartments are of a high quality with lovely open-plan living. Some opt for apartments for security reasons and because most of them are located within walking distance to town.

 

At times, there is a wide choice of accommodation available, particularly in December/January when there is usually a turnover of internationals.   At other times, the choice will be more limited, and rather than stay in temporary accommodation forever, you may have to compromise on the perfect house or apartment!  

 

Rental Costs

Rents are high and start from FJD 2,500 per month and seem to spike during Nov/ Dec months. It is possible to bargain, particularly if you know the house has been vacant for some time.  There appears to be little variation in the rents of furnished and unfurnished houses, though most houses do come furnished so it is usually not required to bring all of your furniture.  Having said this, furnishings may not be to your taste and the local options are fairly limited.  Not every appliance is provided and you may need to negotiate with the landlord to provide a washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc which can be very expensive locally.

 

It is standard for landlords to require a deposit of a month's rent and the first month's rent in advance when you sign the agreement, although some landlords require up to six months' rent in advance.

 

Where to Live

You need to decide what area/s you want to live in.  Drive around to familiarise yourself with Suva, and to get a feel of where you would like to live.  Talk to others about the pros and cons of the area they live in.  Most ex-pats live in the following areas:

 

  • Domain/Muanikau/Nasese:  Pleasant leafy area; close to downtown; good water supply; considered a safer area to live than other areas.  If you live on the flat part of Nasese (close to the sea), you will have to evacuate your house if there is a tsunami warning.

 

  • Suva Point:  Nice neighbourhood beside the sea a little further out from Muanikau; good water supply.  Close to the sea, so gets evacuated if there is a tsunami warning. Both Domain and Suva Point are near to town and Cost-U-Less and Nasese Bakery.  About 12 minutes to ISS (International School in Suva), though journey back home can be long during morning rush hour.

 

  • Flagstaff:  Close to town, about 12  minutes to ISS, good water supply.  Most apartment buildings are located in this area. Served by MH Flagstaff, Wahley’s Butcher, and Lazy Chef Pantry.  Relatively close to Cost-U-Less.

 

  • Tamavua/Namadi:  some gorgeous houses with spectacular views; water supply may be a problem. A trip from Tamavua to downtown can be done in 8 minutes in no traffic.  20-30 minutes at rush hour;  8 - 10 minutes from ISS.  Served by MH Superfresh and other shops at Mead Road shopping centre and Joe’s Farm in Namadi Heights.

 

  • Lami:  Further away from downtown, and on the ‘wrong side of town’ for amenities such as schools (although on the International School bus route); some gorgeous houses, some with sea views and one or two right beside the sea; slow traffic in and out of town at peak hours.  The lower lying part gets evacuated if there is a tsunami warning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Issues to Consider

 

As well as the area you want to live in, and the type of accommodation you require, you should give some thought to the following:

 

  • Furnished or unfurnished

  • Whether you want a swimming pool – most apartment blocks and some houses have a pool.  Also, if you have children is the pool fenced or is the landlord willing to have it fenced to child safety standards.  There are no regulations in Fiji that require this.

  • Whether you need a separate maid’s bure or quarters (i.e. whether you want live-in or live-out household help)

  • Security:  You need to determine the level of security you desire – bars on windows; alarm system; secure fencing

  • Whether you need access to toilets for gardener/guards

  • Whether you need an area or house for guards to sit

  • Hot water source:  a solar water heater will reduce the power bill

 

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How to find a House or Apartment

  • Drive around:   Some houses will have a ‘To Let’ sign on the gate with a contact phone number.  This is also a good way of ruling out houses you are not interested in.

  • Newspaper:  The Saturday edition of the Fiji Times has a good listing of houses and apartments, some through real estate agents, and some directly with the landlord.

  • Real estate agents:  Some agencies have a list of rental properties to suit ex-pats.  It is best not to let the agent know your budget – just give details of the type and size of accommodation you are interested in and the area/s you like.  There is no charge to you for looking with an agent – the fee is charged to the landlord.  Agents generally do not provide what is currently available on a website, as most available good property gets snapped up before it is made generally public.  It is advisable to call the agents directly and be clear on what your needs are; when you 

  • There are a number of real estate agencies, including:

42 Knolly St (near to Governors)​

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Apartments

You should deal directly with the Manager of whichever apartment complexes you are interested in.  Most have 24-hour security.  The apartment buildings listed below, are all located in central Suva:

 

  • Victoria Park Apartments:  10-12 Riley Street (off Knollys St.), Ph: 330-0401, 995-0481 vpa@connect.com.fj (2 and 3-bedrooms; fully furnished; large pool)

  • Victoria Apartments:  36-38 Disraeli Rd 331 0826 / 338 1038  www.victoriaapartmentsfiji.com (1-2 bedrooms, fully furnished)

  • Des Voeux Towers:  2-4 Des Voeux Road, Ph: 330-5008  trustoffice@connect.com.fj (2-bedrooms; furnished; very close to town, good management)

  • Na Hina Apartments: 4 McGregor Road, Ph: 330-0455  www.na-hina.com (new building, fully furnished; rooftop pool, close to town)

  • Ambassador Apartments:  109 Nailuva Road, Ph: 990-7344 (fully furnished; pool; gym)

  • Cakabau Apartments: corner of Gladstone Rd and Ratu Cakabau Rd; Ph: 330 0455 / 992 9390, apartments@rawlinsons-pacific.com (Apartments looking over Albert Park; short and long term leasing, fully furnished 2/3 bedrooms).

  • Albert Park Apartments: Ph: 999 9923. (New deluxe apartments overlooking Albert Park)

  • Moana on the Park:  67 Gladstone, Suva, contact Lydia Keil-Walker 9993261; moanaestate@gmail.com

  • President Towers: 39 Ratu Sukuna Rd; Ph: 927 7410 / 991 2247; dcsil@yahoo.com

  • Bau Apartments:  Short Street, Flagstaff, Ph: 330-4280, 330-1647, (Serviced apartments)

  • Tower 2000: 65 Knollys Street Ph: 330 4770 / 999 4770. (Furnished, small pool, close to town)

  • Berry Rd Apt:  (Berry Rd) / Knollys St. Apts (Knolly Rd) / Parkview Apts (67 Gladstone Rd)

  • Capital Hill Apartments:  Krishna St. Wailoku, 332 2333/ 707 3700 (15 minute drive to central Suva, offers short term and long term leasing)

  • Camira Courts, Princes Rd, Gate complex, 1-3 bedrooms, fully furnished. Contact: 990 6800/ camira@unwired.com.fj

  • Lami Apartments, Uduya Point, Lami. Manager: Jacqui Watts, Ph: 9993313

  • Victoria Park Villas: (vpa@connect.com.fj). Pender street. Villas offering executive family size duplex villas and apts.  Fully furnished.   Please note: These apartments have been very popular for short-medium term stays for families but recent experience has shown that some critical issues in regards to children safety with the pool and balconies means that we can no longer recommend these apartments for families.  ph: 330-0401 or 995-0481

 

 

Checklist when you find Accommodation

When interested in a house, check the following:

 

  • Level of security (neighbourhood, fencing, lighting, window grills, etc.). UNDSS Security requires to do housing security check

  • Water pressure – try taps and showers

  • Existence of a water tank

  • Windows shutters

  • Glass in windows - Many, even executive, houses have wooden cyclone proof louvers and insect screening but no glass in the windows which reflect traditional design for hot weather but then makes using air conditioners problematic trying to keep cold air in.

  • Sources of power for water heating and cooking (solar, gas or electricity)

  • General condition of house – whether it needs painting, repairs etc

  • Safety: conditions of pool fence, balconies, electrical systems, 

  • Condition of wood on wardrobes, window frames, drawers etc

  • Condition of appliances, including fans and A/Cs

  • If needed, whether there are maid’s quarters, an outside toilet for guards and gardeners, and an area or guardhouse for guards

  • If you want unfurnished accommodation, but the house is furnished, find out whether the landlord is willing to remove furniture

 

When you decide to move in, ensure there is agreement between you and the landlord regarding the following:

  • The rental agreement, especially the clause regarding how much notice has to be given when you want to leave (make sure to include “diplomatic act.” The agreement may be terminated by you on giving 1 (2-3) months notice unless you have to leave the country due to any force majeure reason, including forced relocation due to political situation etc.)

  • Any repairs or alterations to be done to the house before you move in, including servicing of A/Cs

  • Whether or not a gardener is provided by the landlord

  • If there is a pool, whether or not maintenance will be provided by the landlord

  • What ‘fair wear and tear’ means in terms of the condition you leave the house in – are you allowed to put picture hooks in the walls, or is this regarded as ‘damage to the property’?!

  • If you are dealing with an absentee landlord, find out from the broker how you arrange repairs etc

 

 

Other Issues:

  • You will need to transfer utilities (phone, power, water) to your name

  • Check gas connections, and familiarise yourself with gas appliances and fittings if you have not used them before

 

 

Buying a Property

Please review carefully new legislation on Land Sales Act on purchasing property as a foreign investor.   The Fiji Government has passed amendments to the Land Sales Act that prevent any land within town boundaries from being sold to foreigners.  The legislation means foreigners who currently own houses in Fiji cannot sell it to other non-residents, potentially causing a drop in the value of their properties.  Foreigners who already own land but have not built a house are now required to do so within two years, or face a fine of 10 per cent of the property's value every six months.  The amendments also require foreigners building a house to spend at least $AUS150,000 on construction costs.

 

Check the facebook group Fiji Marketing - Houses for Rent//Sale

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