Published Tuesday, 21 October, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
NEW SERVICE TO HELP RENTERS ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS
A new Bligh Government initiative being trialled in Caboolture to help eligible people find and secure a home in the private rental market is already paying dividends, with two local residents accessing the service to successfully secure a dwelling.
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten was joined by local MPs Carryn Sullivan and Carolyn Male to officially launch the RentConnect Advisory Service trial today.
“With the housing affordability in the private rental market at record lows, I asked the Department of Housing to develop this new service to assist those people in our community who are struggling to find a home to rent in the private market,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Each day, around 70 people apply for social housing in Queensland but we know many of these people could be housed in the private market. They just need support to get their foot in the door.”
Mr Schwarten said a young couple with two children from Caboolture with no rental history had been successful in their application for a property after using the RentConnect service recently, clearly demonstrating the potential of the initiative.
“The couple took part in an interview with a RentConnect officer at the Department of Housing’s Caboolture office and were given advice on how to complete the relevant documentation plus information on available properties in the local area,” he said.
“Within days they had called the office to advise that their application for one of those properties had been successful.
“The process of finding a home to rent, understanding how the rental application process works and preparing a rental application is complex and competitive.
“The RentConnect Advisory Service aims to better inform people about how to go about renting and provides flexible levels of assistance depending on each person’s circumstances.”
Mr Schwarten said a local RentConnect Officer, based in the Department of Housing’s Caboolture area office, would provide one-on-one assistance and assess what level of help each client needed.
“For many, it may be that they will need more information on the renting process or advice on how to approach and deal with local real estate agents and property managers.
“In some cases, a package of assistance will be required to help these clients secure a home to rent.”
Mr Schwarten said RentConnect, with the support of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, aimed to develop mutually beneficial working relationships with real estate agencies in Caboolture.
“By providing referrals of rent-ready clients, we believe the RentConnect service will also be an advantage to local property managers and real estate agencies,” he said.
“Should the RentConnect pilots in Caboolture and Central Queensland achieve the outcomes we are seeking for potential renters, we may consider a state-wide release of this program.”
For more information, including a series of fact sheets on the process of renting a home, visit the Department of Housing’s website at www.housing.qld.gov.au/renting.
Media contact: Minister’s Office (07) 3237 1832
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten was joined by local MPs Carryn Sullivan and Carolyn Male to officially launch the RentConnect Advisory Service trial today.
“With the housing affordability in the private rental market at record lows, I asked the Department of Housing to develop this new service to assist those people in our community who are struggling to find a home to rent in the private market,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Each day, around 70 people apply for social housing in Queensland but we know many of these people could be housed in the private market. They just need support to get their foot in the door.”
Mr Schwarten said a young couple with two children from Caboolture with no rental history had been successful in their application for a property after using the RentConnect service recently, clearly demonstrating the potential of the initiative.
“The couple took part in an interview with a RentConnect officer at the Department of Housing’s Caboolture office and were given advice on how to complete the relevant documentation plus information on available properties in the local area,” he said.
“Within days they had called the office to advise that their application for one of those properties had been successful.
“The process of finding a home to rent, understanding how the rental application process works and preparing a rental application is complex and competitive.
“The RentConnect Advisory Service aims to better inform people about how to go about renting and provides flexible levels of assistance depending on each person’s circumstances.”
Mr Schwarten said a local RentConnect Officer, based in the Department of Housing’s Caboolture area office, would provide one-on-one assistance and assess what level of help each client needed.
“For many, it may be that they will need more information on the renting process or advice on how to approach and deal with local real estate agents and property managers.
“In some cases, a package of assistance will be required to help these clients secure a home to rent.”
Mr Schwarten said RentConnect, with the support of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, aimed to develop mutually beneficial working relationships with real estate agencies in Caboolture.
“By providing referrals of rent-ready clients, we believe the RentConnect service will also be an advantage to local property managers and real estate agencies,” he said.
“Should the RentConnect pilots in Caboolture and Central Queensland achieve the outcomes we are seeking for potential renters, we may consider a state-wide release of this program.”
For more information, including a series of fact sheets on the process of renting a home, visit the Department of Housing’s website at www.housing.qld.gov.au/renting.
Media contact: Minister’s Office (07) 3237 1832