The suspension of work and shutting down of businesses by the government to decelerate the COVID-19 spread has left service and hourly workers in a financial pinch. Especially for tenants in this labor sector, their struggle to pay rent during this pandemic season has now become as genuine hardship. 

But Nathan Nichols, a landlord of two units in South Portland wants to set a noble example by not collecting rent in the month of April.

He said on his Facebook post, "I own a two-unit in South Portland and all of my tenants are in this category. Because I have the good fortune of being able to afford it and the privilege of being in the owner class, I just let them know I would not be collecting rent in April."

Nichols also urges other landlords to consider giving their tenants a rental break as well while the entire country battles with the pandemic.

He added, “So many landlords have reached out saying that they want to help, but have to pay their own mortgage. Apparently, mortgage lenders are providing relief to those who qualify, but you have to reach out to them. Talk to your tenants and find out their situation, then talk to your lender and ask for assistance.”

Nichols, however, does not imply along with his cause that landlords who decline to provide rental relief to their clients are bad people.

Nathan Nichols’ noble example on Facebook garnered a lot of positive praise from the community and has reached more than 20k shares. A call for landlords giving tenants a rental break has caused chatter all over the country and probably inspired a group of New York’s largest landlords to postpone evictions for a period of three months.

News source: https://www.cbsnews.com/