The Housing Authority has revealed that a total of 30 houses in Lautoka will be on the auction block next week as they owners have failed to make payments on their homes.

Chief Executive for the Housing Authority Alipate Naiorosui said the contract of their auctioneer is expected to be finalized in the next few days and they will start selling to the highest bidder.

Naiorosui said that out of their 20,000 customers nationwide, 30 to 35 percent come from the West with many of them defaulting on their payments.

These 30 houses were put up for mortgage however this is the last option for the Authority to recover outstanding debts.

Meanwhile, with regards to the from the loan from the Chinese EXIM, Naiorosui said that a last minute evaluation is being carried out and they are hoping to get the money within the next two weeks.

Fiji's Ambassador to China Sir James Ah-Koy is expected to comment on the issue later today.