Months on from Lismore's devastating February floods, desperate tenants in the region are still searching for a home.
Property managers are reporting some renters in Lismore who were applying for rentals immediately post-floods are still trying to find somewhere to live, with no luck due to lack of supply and tough competition.
Tenants of Lismore continue to search for a home post floods. Picture: Getty
Sam Cheli is a property manager at Ray White in Lismore and said it's a very sad situation for local renters, as properties are still in short supply due to ongoing repairs.
"The majority of people applying now are still flood impacted, and it's so sad to see the same people still applying for a home – they really do need something more than ever," Mr Cheli said.
"About a week or two after the flood, we had an exponential increase of people and applications for properties.
"We were getting incredible offers – rent [paid] six to 12 months in advance, and eight-week bonds, just anything to get them ahead of the line and ahead of the pack."
Tenants find it hard to compete
According to Mr Cheli, homes in the $300 to $400 per week mark were seeing up to 150 enquiries and about 40 to 50 applicants on average.
"It's really sad when you see the same people still applying for rentals who were applying months ago," he said.
While Mr Cheli said while demand is starting to plateau, supply is frustratingly flat.
13 Gardner Avenue is one of the 44 rentals currently listed in the Greater Lismore region. Picture: realestate.com.au/rent
As of 5 July, there were just 44 rentals in the Greater Lismore region listed on realestate.com.au, which includes Dunoon and Clunes.
"With our application system, we can see these people popping up on our data lists everyday. It's so sad you just think: 'Oh my God, they're still looking.'
"I had one woman at an open who said she had applied for every property she had been into since the flood. It didn't matter what it was, whether it was a one-bedroom unit or a four-bedroom house and it didn't matter what price, and she still hadn't gotten anything.
"I give people as much feedback as possible on their application form, but at the end of the day, they are just getting trumped financially. It's not that they cant afford it, it's just that others can afford it more. Most of these applications being turned down arent even mediocre applications, they just aren't as good as others."
What the government is doing
Local residents of Lismore still have few answers about the future of their homes or their town, with a flood inquiry now underway. Submissions have been extended up until 24 June.
In June's meeting of Lismore Council, a vote passed six-to-five against supporting land buybacks and block swaps.
The Commonwealth and NSW Government have committed more than $3 billion in total towards recovery efforts, which includes 2000 modular homes to act as temporary accommodation for victims.
Flood impacted residents are also eligible for the Disaster Recovery Payment of up to $2000 and a recently announced allowance of $350 per week for up to 13 weeks for those whose work was impacted.
