Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Chair, Peter Brewer, has been appointed as a Strategic Partnerships Ambassador for the Tenancy Skills Institute, with the goal of fostering stronger relationships with the real estate industry and other organisations.
Mr Brewer’s appointment comes at a crucial time, with Queensland facing an unprecedented housing crisis.
The Tenancy Skills Institute is dedicated to providing Queenslanders with the essential education and life skills needed to secure and maintain rental accommodation.
Mr Brewer said the institute recently celebrated a significant milestone, with 20,000 students engaging with the industry-recognised education programs and last week delivered the Introduction to Renting short course to 700 students at Kelvin Grove State College in Brisbane.
“The looks in the kids’ eyes when they got their certificates just melted me,” he said.
“And I knew then that we have to do more of this.
“That’s the goal, to get this into schools across Queensland, or hopefully nationally, to teach kids how to clean, how to budget, how to communicate and how to be good neighbours.
“If we can give them those life skills, that increases their chances of achieving a rental property and maintaining a successful tenancy for a long period of time.”
Tenancy Skills Institute Chief Executive Officer, Paul Tommasini, said the institute’s online and in-person program focussed on five key areas property managers have identified as being crucial for a successful tenancy, including effective communication, renter rights and responsibilities, renting with others, cleaning and maintenance and finances and budgeting.
“Our goal is to make this free certificate course accessible to all Queenslanders,” he said.
“We aim to reduce the number of at-risk tenancies and create a more equitable rental landscape.
“With the rental market under immense pressure, these skills are more important than ever.”
Mr Brewer said working with the real estate sector also had the power to make a positive impact on the housing crisis.
He has already facilitated productive meetings between property managers and community groups, highlighting the shared goals and importance of housing access for all Queenslanders.
Mr Brewer said property managers could identify at risk tenancies and refer tenants to complete the course to get things back on track.
We need a unified approach to address this housing crisis,” he said.
“Collaboration between community groups and the real estate sector is essential.”
Mr Brewer noted that more housing, including rentals, was needed across the country, but he said one way the institute’s course could help was by upskilling tenants.
“If landlords can see there’s better educated tenants out there it could mean less landlords bailing out of the market,” he said.
Mr Brewer will continue his role as REIQ chair while working with the institute.
Tenancy Skills Institute courses are available in all states and territories, and in Queensland are funded by the Queensland Government. Visit tenancyskills.com.au for more information.
