Victorian communities just outside of the state’s worst-hit bushfire areas are rallying to provide housing for victims. Pictures: supplied, Jason Edwards.
Victorians who have lost homes to bushfires are being expedited for alternative accommodation as special registers are established to connect them with places to stay.
Real estate groups including Ray White and Elders in the Euroa and Seymour area are working to find owners with available properties, or even rooms, to provide stop gaps and longer-term housing options for those who have lost properties — as well as their four-legged friends.
From farms to granny flats near the state’s badly impacted Longwood bushfire area, property owners with spare space are being encouraged to connect with the groups establishing registers.
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The goal is to assist those who are uninsured, underinsured or not able to be provided accommodation by their insurer, that is near to the community they work in.
Agents are also reporting complex scenarios where homes have been recently sold, or were listed for sale, that have now been lost to the fires.
On Sunday, Elders Euroa’s Brendan Allen made a heartfelt plea on Instagram for housing to support those who had lost everything, and for those in need of a place to stay following the fires to contact him.
A Creightons Creek farmhouse that had been sold just a few months ago for $570,000. Picture: supplied.
There is little left of the property. Picture: supplied.
“We’re a strong community, we will get through this together,” he said.
The post from his brendanallen_euroa Instagram account had attracted more than 500 likes by Monday afternoon.
Mr Allen said they had already had a handful of people ask for assistance, and others volunteer homes without being asked, but that they feared many more would be needed.
“We are trying to become a conduit for the short term,” he said.
“It’s a little informal. Just people in the bush trying to help each other out.”
The agent said they were looking to build a shortlist of everything from family homes, to granny flats, and even caravans and cabins on people’s blocks, so that fire victims could stay as close to their community as possible.
Mr Allen added that they were also hoping to find homes that could welcome pets, be it alongside their owners or kennelling.
A neighbouring Creightons Creek property that was also destroyed in the fires was listed for sale, but has now been withdrawn from the market. Picture: supplied.
The remains of a Longwood property that had been rented out. Picture: supplied.
They are looking for homes in the areas of Euroa, Avenel, Nagambie, Violet Town and Benalla.
“Anywhere within a reasonable drive of where people have been affected, that can be on a register,” Mr Allen said.
So far they’ve had offers of many of these homes, and also from motor-inn motels and similar businesses.
“There’s a vast amount of land that’s been destroyed and it will take quite a long time for things to resemble what they did,” Mr Allen said.
“But people in the bush are resilient.”
Elders Euroa are also running a hay depot for the fire affected areas, and seeking out anyone who has the stubble from last year’s harvest that could be used for agistment for displaced cattle.
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Farmers and locals work to defend property near Yarck as part of defences against the Longwood bushfire. Picture: Jason Edwards.
The agent said his firm was aware of scenarios where homes that were for sale, or that had recently been sold, had been burned — but in most scenarios he was aware of the buyers had taken out insurance the moment they had a financial interest in the property, and should be covered.
Those able to help can contact Elders on (03) 5736 4300.
Ray White Euroa and Seymour principal Shane Thomson said his firm had already been informed they had lost one property for sale, another that had sold in the past few months and a rental home.
“And we are waiting for more phone calls,” Mr Thomson said.
Brendan Allen made a heartfelt plea for housing assistance on Instagram that has already helped connect owners with people who have lost everything.
The remnants of another home destroyed by fires in Yarck. Picture: Jason Edwards.
However, they are also seeking to connect those who have lost their home with rentals in the region, with about 20 homes currently on their books across Euroa, Seymour and Benalla where they intended to expedite applications for bushfire victims seeking longer-term residence with formal rental agreements.
“The idea is to try to match people to the right property that their family needs,” Mr Thomson said.
“And there will be a lot to come out in the coming days and weeks.”
The agency is collecting donations in the form of household furniture and appliances.
Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee recently released a column that noted while the timeline for recovery could vary, most bushfire-hit areas’ values did tend to dip initially but ultimately recover.
Those fighting the fires were left watching in heartbreak as structures burned in many instances. Picture: Jason Edwards
Ms Conisbee pointed to Mallacoota, hit hard by the Black Summer fires in 2019-2020, where there was an initial hit to home values — but the town’s typical house value subsequently surged 70 per cent in the following three years.
This was in part a response to Covid-19 driving more people to regional Victoria, and the economist noted that recovery timelines could vary depending on several factors.
“Short-term price impacts from disasters typically recover, but the timeline can vary significantly by location and circumstances,” Ms Conisbee said.
“But insurance costs and availability are becoming increasingly important factors in property values, particularly in high-risk areas.
“(And) government investment in disaster mitigation can significantly influence long-term property values in affected areas.”
— Additional reporting, Alesha Capone
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