New website links renters looking for an apartment with Maine landlords with apartments to rent – for free
AUGUSTA, ME – August 7, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Are you a renter looking for an apartment? Or a landlord with an apartment to rent?
In either case, you may want to check out MaineHousingSearch.org – a new online easily searchable rental listing service with detailed descriptions of rentals.
And it is all free.
MaineHousing, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and in partnership with 211 Maine, is sponsoring the website as a public service.
“This is a great tool for landlords and for tenants,” said Dale McCormick, Director of MaineHousing. “It’s quick and easy to use, it’s available on line 24-7, it’s listings remain current, and best of all there is no charge for listing apartments or searching for rentals.”
The sponsoring organizations have contracted with Socialserve.com, a national non-profit provider of housing locator services, to run Maine’s site. Socialserve.com provides a similar housing registry and locator service in 27 other states.
While the Maine site is available on line, outreach is only just beginning. Currently there are over 700 listings with 7,284 units, including 475 vacancies, statewide, with some in every county. MaineHousing and DHHS are encouraging Maine landlords to list their apartments on the site.
“This service is for everyone. In addition to providing information on government-assisted properties with vacancies, we hope it will be popular with landlords who offer market-rate rentals,” McCormick noted.
“The more apartments listed, the more useful it is to renters and the more they will use it. The more people who use it, the better it is for landlords with apartments available for rent.”
Landlords interested in listing apartments may register and receive a password at MaineHousingSearch.org or by calling toll free 1-877-428-8844.
Once they have a password they can go to MaineHousingSearch.org and enter information online about any rental properties they have, and note what apartments are vacant and available to rent. Listings can include detailed information, including eligibility requirements if any, and photos.
Registered landlords can log in at any time to add or remove properties or remove a vacancy listing once an apartment is rented. Renters or landlords with questions or who prefer to provide information on their listings by telephone can call Socialserve at a toll free call center (1-877-428-8844) weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Renters seeking an apartment can search the listing by location, rent cost, size, proximity to work, and other factors. The 211 telephone service assistance line worked with MaineHousing and DHHS in the design and implementation of the site. The site will include a link to 211 for renters needing their assistance, and 211 will have a link to the housing registry.
“MaineHousingSearch.org will help link people who need housing with the housing they need,” McCormick noted
