The RentConnect Expansion Team and Regional RentConnect officers received the Minister’s Award for Excellence as well as the Director-General’s Collaboration Award at the recent Staff Excellence Awards (pictured).
After a successful trial in Rockhampton and Caboolture, the RentConnect expansion team worked tirelessly to expand the advisory service to 14 Department of Communities Housing Service Centres across Queensland.
Part of the expansion involved setting up ConnectPoint computer terminals at all Housing Service Centres (except Thursday Island) so clients can search online for private rental properties or access government websites for information and services.
In addition, anyone can download the series of fact sheets on finding a place to rent in Queensland’s private housing market from the department's website.
"Since launching in 2008, RentConnect officers have assisted over 4950 clients, including families, couples and individuals, who were financially able to manage a private rental tenancy, but were struggling to access the opportunity due to non-financial barriers such as limited rental history, or a limited understanding of the application process," Robin Zakharov, Director Private Housing Programs said.
Building relationships with real estate agency property managers in the local area is part of the RentConnect officers' role and is essential to the success of the RentConnect program.
These relationships were enhanced through networking opportunities at the 2011 Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s state conference in Brisbane in April.
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