The Public Service Commission is wasting no time in upgrading vacant government quarters and putting them on the real estate market for rental.

The Chairman, Josefa Serulagilagi said efforts are made to utilize the quarters which have been lying idle for a long period of time.

He said provisions will be retained to entice civil servants to serve in the rural areas and outer islands.

He said officers serving in the districts will continue to live in government quarters and this arrangement will not be subjected to any changes at this stage.

However, Serulagilagi said as of 1st February next year, all government rented quarters will be terminated and officers who are eligible to occupy quarters will be paid a housing allowance.

He said upon the completion of renovations to vacant government quarters in the Suva area, it will be then let out for rental and civil servants as well as the general public will be eligible to lease these quarters. He said this arrangement will confine to the Suva area only and will expand to other parts of the country later.

Meanwhile, Serulagilagi said the maintenance of the government quarters will be transferred from the Public Works Department to PSC from next month.