Photo: Contributed

Tenants in a Penticton apartment building are getting a break in their rent payments.

COVID-19 is having its effect on everyone — a situation at least one property owner understands.

For the people who live at 132 Power Street, Christmas came early last week, when each got a knock on the door from a property management representative.

“We have a property manager that came over, and handed everybody personally a letter from the owner saying he was trying to help everybody out by reducing the rent for the next couple of months because of the situation that’s evolving,” explained Jean Bowden. “Everybody was very surprised, and of course, very happy.  I’m a senior and don’t work, so all this doesn’t affect me the same way. But anybody that was working was very happy because a lot of them have lost their jobs now for awhile. 

“It’s wonderful of him to do that.”

The owner has taken $250 off each tenant's rent payment for April and May.

“I was very surprised and very happy obviously. That’s quite a lot of money off your rent,” added Bowden, who has lived in the building for 12 years. “This will help some of them a great deal. Two of them working and you’ve lost two pay cheques — it can be really tough. I’ve met with a few of the tenants that were very surprised and very thankful. It’s very generous.” 

With many people facing impossible situations paying rent or mortgages, there’s a push for more landlords to help out their tenants.

“I thought it was really nice and there were a lot of people super happy about it,” offered Jean’s daughter Dawn Merritt. “I thought it would be kind of nice to put that challenge out there for Penticton and landlords that can afford to do it for their tenants who have lost jobs. Everyone in the apartment was so happy. There were tears from some.”