REIQ and REA partner to ease Townsville housing shortfall

Real estate peak body, The Real Estate Institute of Queensland, together with REA Group, the owners of listing portals realestate.com.au and Flatmates.com.au, have worked to establish a short-term solution for Townsville’s potential housing shortfall.

As the flooded homes are slowly cleaned up, displaced Townsville residents, along with workers flying into the city to help with repairs and clean-up efforts, may struggle to find suitable accommodation.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said she had 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.

“Flatmates.com.au will waive listing fees for those in Townsville who are opening their homes, rent free to anyone in need of short-term accommodation during the massive clean-up operation,” Ms Mercorella said.

“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 said. 

Single rooms are well suited to tradespeople who are only in town for short periods and this will hopefully free up larger housing accommodation for families who have lost their home and property.

Flatmates.com.au general manager, 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, so Flatmates.com.au will be waiving all fees for those people offering rent free accommodation.” he said.