The Fiji Consumers Association has welcomed moves to regulate the real estate industry.
The Association's secretary, Paras Sukul told the Fiji Times that the proposed Real Estate Agents Bill was the first real step towards addressing consumer concerns about real estate prices and services.
Mr Sukul says consumer's rights were being compromised in the current environment in which real estate agents operated.
He says the spiraling rise in real estate prices reflects the lack of regulatory controls on both price and non-price matters.
Mr Sukul says the affordability of housing has decreased access to low and middle-income earners and many find themselves pushed to the fringes of crowded housing estates and squatter settlements.
The Real Estate Agents Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary sector standing committee on Economic Services for the committee to report back to Parliament during its July and August sitting.
The association presented its submission to the committee in Suva on Monday.
