Amidst the negativity, I would like to share a story of a tenancy that gave us hope.
When the government announced a moratorium on rental evictions several weeks ago we had a small number of tenants attempt to utilise this to their advantage. Fortunately, for us, it was only a handful, but given the global climate, we were certainly nervous.
Whilst we are sympathetic to genuine hardship, my business partner and I decided we would not entertain opportunists and quickly devised a method to sort out the truly needy from those having a go.
Yesterday we received another email entitled “Covid-19,” from a tenant. Immediately upon reading the title, we thought it would be a request for a rent reduction, we would have to approach the investor/owner, tell them the tenant had asked for a reduction and basically, there was nothing he could do other than negotiate.
Below is what we received,
“With the COVID-19 situation, a lot of people are affected and lost their jobs. Is it really sad. We feel like we want to assure you that we both still have a job. We are fortunate to be working in a less affected industry. So in the coming months, we will still be able to pay rent in full.
Just transferred rent $2,000 until May 17th, 2020″
That is more than a month’s rent in advance! Mind you that, contractually, the tenant is only obligated to pay 2 weeks in advance.
Additionally, the tenants are millennials, in their mid-20’s and do not work in secure industry’s.
I was ever-impressed with the maturity, forthrightness, compassion & financial selflessness shown by these men.
The lesson, I believe, is despite the doom and gloom, despite the political posturing, there is hope.
There is hope that there is a generation of ours that does care. They do think of other’s and they do the ‘right thing.’
None of us know how this is going to turn out and the aforementioned tenants could lose their jobs and had a better use for their $2000. If/when that does become the case, we (and the owner) will work with them to ensure that they keep a roof over their head as they have paid it forward and in me, created an advocate for life.
If you hear of any other stories of kindness or selflessness, please share. The world can use a bit more glimmer to its glow at the moment.
