Real estate peak body The Real Estate Institute of Queensland and REA Group who own Flatmates.com.au, have come together to establish a short-term solution for Townsville’s potential housing shortfall.
As the massive clean up of flooded homes continues, displaced Townsville residents and workers flying into the city to help will have an easier time finding accommodation with REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella announcing that Flatmates.com.au will be waiving listing fees for people in Townsville who are opening their homes, rent free to anyone in need of short-term accommodation during the clean up.
Mercorella said, “We have seen this situation in other areas facing disasters, including the Whitsundays after Cyclone Debbie in 2017. The displaced locals whose homes have flooded and the hundreds of workers who have come to the area to start on repairs place a strain on available accommodation.”
“It’s difficult to forecast how severe the housing shortfall might be, but this kind of creative and proactive solution should help ease some of the strain on the housing supply,” she added.
General Manager of Flatmates.com.au, Simon Hope, said housing solutions was at the heart of what REA Group is all about.
“We wanted to help by offering a solution that brings together those who have spare accommodation and those who are in need of accommodation in a simple and effective way,” he said.
“This solution is about helping the people of Townsville get back on their feet,” Hope said.
