NHC to go on with evictions

THE National Housing Corporation will continue to carry out evictions on any defaulting tenants as part of its revenue recovery measures.
“Eviction is an integral part of NHC business in order to recoup much needed revenue to ensure it meets its liabilities and creditors,” managing director Paul Asukusa said.
He said this in response to a media report last Thursday highlighting the plight of a tenant and her family after being evicted by officers and policemen at Section 6 Allotment 3 at Boroko.
He said although he sympathised with the family, NHC would continue to conduct evictions throughout the country for its purpose and aim as an entity mandated to manage and administer properties.
“NHC has taken such drastic action as a last resort when all notices have been fully exhausted,” Mr Asukusa said.
“Although it was not their fault, tenants must also be advised that it is also their duty to ensure pay deductions from their employees are fully paid to NHC to avoid being evicted.”
Mr Asukusa said keys to the property had been withheld by NHC pending proper validation to be carried out to substantiate if the property was ordered to be transferred to the tenant.
The property was categorised as a Morgan Scheme which as given the sitting tenants in the early 1980s to purchase outright at much deflated value despite their market value.
However, the tenant concerned and many others under the same category including the Government Sell Off Scheme have exceeded their exist dates to purchase these properties and will now be targeted to recover the outstanding revenues.
Mr Asukusa appealed to all tenants with outstanding arrears to come forward and settle their dues or risk being forced out without further notice.
He also appealed to all tenants of Government Give-Away-Scheme to settle any compulsory fees before their titles transferred to them.
Close to 800 titles have been given away while the balance from the 4,022 properties under GAS is yet to be transferred.
Meanwhile, the corporation’s lawyers will conduct legal review of all State properties under various schemes, especially those located at prime locations apart from GAS.
Mr Asukusa said thousands of properties had been given away without due diligence check done on their market value resulting in the depletion of housing stock for the public servants and loss of revenue for NHC.