The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission from last year till now has charged 41 landlords for illegally increasing rent and failing to keep proper records.
There are 21 cases pending in Court that relate to illegal rent increase.
The Commission has also filed a total of 20 charges against landlords for failure to keep records such as no tenancy agreements and receipts.
The maximum penalties for such offences is $10,000 for a first offender and $100,000 for a second or subsequent offender or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.
Tenants have been urged to report matters of suspected illegal rent increase to the Commission for further action.
The Commission says that tenants who are found to be aiding and abetting landlords in illegally increasing the rent and not having proper tenancy agreements and receipts, may be liable for $10,000 fine or $100,000 for subsequent offending or maximum term of 10 years imprisonment or both.
