NONGSTOIN: Tenants in West Khasi Hills are breathing easy after property owners considered rent relaxation amid lockdown.
Lila Nongkhar, a local entrepreneur and self-employed woman, from New Nongstoin understands the difficulties faced by her tenants and has decided to let one of them go rent-free while four others will pay half of the rent for the month of April.
Sympathising with the tenants, Nongkhar had a meeting with her tenants to hear out their problems. They told her about their inability to pay rent for April. Nongkhar also receives rent from five shops in Nongstoin market and owns a house, which is being rented by a poor family.
“I have depended on the rent of the shops for all these years, so paying only half of my rent will ease the burden and it’s a win-win situation because it’s a gesture that’s worth a thousand rupees,” Nongkhar said.
Pynskhem Lyngdoh, a tenant, said, “We are in panic most of the time. And it is not with regard to the virus but about the lockdown and meeting our financial obligation such as rent. We are very lucky that our landlord has understood our problems.” He added that the cash which was meant to be deposited as monthly rent has been spent to buy essential commodities.
