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Bushfires continue to terrorise communities across Australia, as families and communities lose more than their home but their belongings and way of life.
As the number of homes damaged or destroyed from the blaze nears 3,000, there are potentially 75,000 residents under threat from the flames in Eastern Victoria alone.
As people wait to return to their homes and try and rebuild their lives, a lot of families will have to turn to rental homes while they rebuild their homes and their lives.
The area of Eastern Victoria is already squeezed for rentals, with East Gippsland and Wellington Shire having a rental vacancy rate of just 0.9 of a percentage point, Latrobe Valley on 1.3 per cent, the Wodonga region on 1.7 per cent and the Goulbourn Valley on 2.5 per cent.
“Bushfire-affected families will be turning to the rental market while they rebuild; they face a tough search given the lack of rental properties across the region,” REIV president Leah Calnan said.
“This is a beautiful area with many holiday homes, and we are calling on holiday home owners in this region to consider putting your home on the rental market to help with the shortfall of rental housing and help these families find a new home.”
As it can take months to years for a family to rebuild their home, those who want to stay in the community will need a rental property, which is why owners of vacant properties need to consider renting, she said.
“Sadly, these markets are already struggling for rental homes, so any extra homes would be greatly appreciated,” Ms Calnan said.
“Investors and holiday home owners are not necessarily from this area, they could be from Melbourne or across Victoria, [and] we are calling on them to put their properties on the market and help a bushfire-affected family put a roof over their heads.
“After surviving a bushfire, the last thing you want to be doing is taking on a long, drawn-out search for a rental home.
“Extra rental homes will allow these people to stay in the communities they love.
“Given the strong demand for rental home, properties will be leased at a rapid pace, reducing the stress for landlords.”
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