Tenant broke down on call, confessing she couldn't pay rent. Landlord's response caught her off guard

Among the countless horror stories involving tenants and landlords, this compassionate story is winning hearts online. Reddit user u/No_District9762's long-term tenant had always been a great person who had never caused any trouble in their house. However, when she was struck with a crisis, instead of evicting her, the landlord decided to do something heartwarming instead. Sharing the story on November 13, the landlord's post has been upvoted more than 27,000 times on Reddit.

u/No_District9762 has had a tenant who has been living in the property for over 5 years. Described as an unproblematic tenant, the landlord calls her one of the best tenants they have ever had. "Zero issues. Rent always on time, she keeps the place spotless, never calls over nonsense, and anytime something breaks she just handles it and lets me know after," the landlord wrote. However, due to a health emergency, the tenant had to apply for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act). Since she did not qualify for disability, she currently has no income and expressed to the landlord her inability to cover the rent.

While most landlords would fume in such a situation, this landlord chose kindness over money. Assuring her that she need not pay the rent for 90 days, the landlord relieved the tenant of a huge burden. They wrote, "I'd rather support a great tenant who's always done right by me than force her out over a tough temporary situation. Losing a few months of rent is easier than losing someone reliable long-term." A 2023 study by Kim McKee noted that considerate landlord practices, such as being responsive to repairs, communicating respectfully, and treating tenants fairly, significantly improved how secure and "at home" tenants felt in their living space. By choosing not to impose harsh rules and treating the tenant with basic humanity, the Reddit user stands apart from the countless rude landlords.

Soon after the post went viral, many users praised the landlord for their kindness. u/Worth_Air_9410 wrote, "You know she is a good person. So you are doing the right thing. Life isnt about money when someone is struggling. its about helping a struggling person. As long as you are financially able to carry that load without issue. Always choose kindness for the people who deserve it." u/Mission_Toe6140 commented, "I love that. I don’t have any kind of early termination fee of a lease. I just say please give me 30 days notice at least. I don’t want anyone to stay longer than they want to because once someone doesn’t want to live there anymore, they won’t take care of it the same way. If that makes sense." u/hawkeyegrad96 shared, "I have 131 rentals. I've done this a few times and its always paid off. This year we are giving December free due to everything thats going on with the economy. Its going to 87 properties that have been with me over 3 years. Karma is real."

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