A kind-hearted landlord cancelled her panic-stricken tenant’s rent for a month as the coronavirus crisis causes havoc for struggling families.
Single mum-of-three Kelly Bates, 35, opened up about the “wow” gesture which eased her fears of going broke as the crisis is expected to roll on for weeks.
The single parent from Wexford town, woke up to a message from her landlord yesterday morning that she said “lifted a massive weight off my shoulders.”
Kelly told the Irish Mirror last night: “I was shocked to get that message.
“When I saw it, I thought ‘Oh no what have I done, have I mixed up my payments’ or something?’
“But it wasn’t that at all and I just thought ‘wow’.
“For her to do that and I hadn’t even asked - well she is a very thoughtful person.
“She is a nurse and a mother-of-four dealing with everything and seeing it first hand in the hospital, she is very much in touch with the reality of the situation.
Kelly minds children at home, but with lots of parents off work she will have no work until the ban is lifted.
She said: “I was panicking and thinking how am I going to cope, I have rent to pay, bills to pay and food to put on the table, but I am down a lot of money at the moment.
“I was trying to cut corners where I could.”
The generous landlord told Kelly, in a text message: “Good morning Kelly. I hope you are well and keeping safe at this awful time.
“Listen and take heed of all the advice being given by the authorities.
“I am letting you go rent-free for the next four weeks.
“As kids are at home and groceries are diminishing out of our fridges and presses very quickly.”
