Mr Hosking said the Rochester real estate company had sold the rental side of their business to former employee Kristine Vance five years ago, but they are now back in the “rental game’’ — in more difficult and stressful conditions than ever before.
Mrs Vance, who is director of Pristine Property Management, was forced last week to deliver vacation notices to her renters as she prepared for the clean-up and repair operation required for the properties to be inhabitable after the floods.
In the meantime Mr Hosking and partners, Stuart Wilson and Ken Oliver, are working with Ray White Real Estate companies at Tatura and Bendigo to source rentals for displaced Rochester renters.
They are also prepared to deal with any potential private rental opportunities on behalf of the desperate residents, who are represented by elderly renters, families and couples.
Mr Hosking said there were between 120 to 150 rentals in the town of Rochester.
He said since a Facebook campaign was launched 20 people had asked for help to find temporary accommodation.
“We will do what we can, we are trying to use the Ray White network to help people find people somewhere,” Mr Hosking said.
Mr Hosking and his team, which also includes Laura Budge, are hand-balling inquiries onto the Tatura and Bendigo realtors, who he said “are out and about looking for places for people’’.
He said landlords and realtors would negotiate different terms and “step outside of the box” to help people.
“Most people are asking for something for at least three months, to give them some breathing space,” he said.
“We are looking for anything, a lot of people have a unit out the back of their home that they may be prepared to offer.”
Ray White Tatura also manages all the properties in Kyabram and Tongala, while the Bendigo outlet has a large network in the region.
Mr Hosking said with the Rochester properties deemed uninhabitable it would be some time before people could return to their homes.
“As soon as they are fixed people will beg able back into them. I am just worried about where they are going to find the tradesmen,” he said.
“It was difficult enough before the flood, now it will be even harder.”
Rob Hosking and Stuart Wilson are handling it. Even Ken Oliver will take names.
People who need help can call or text Stuart Wilson on 0404 550 429, Laura Budge on 0437 631 244 or Rob Hosking on 0428 300 056.
