As per request by the Da Nang administration in tandem with providing practical support for the poor, workers and students struggling financially due to COVID-19, many landlords offer rental discounts or exemptions, even provide food relief for tenants in a bid to help them get through this tough time.

Not only exempting or reducing the rent, but landlords in Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District also give food provisions to their tenants. Photo: NGOC DOAN

Phan Van Loi living in residential group No.51, Hoa Tho Dong ward, Cam Le District has lost his daily income due to the impact of COVIDd-19 for more than a month. His rental room price has been reduced by 500,000 VND to only VNA1.5 million by his host. He just hoped the pandemic would  come to an end quickly so that he can go back to his normal life.

Likewise, middle-aged woman Tran Thi Mai is overjoyed since the landlord announced a reduction of VND300,000 VND on the monthly rental charge for her logging located in residential group No.28, Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District.

Similarly, in residential group No.7, Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District is now home to more than 10 rental housing complexes for workers hailing from the nearby provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. They have to stay at home with no income as a result of the virus outbreak in the city. They buy rice and instant noodles to eat gradually with their meager budget during this unexpected break.

According to Mr Nguyen Thanh Tung, one of the landlords in this area, since the beginning of the COVID-19 wave in May 2021, he has reduced rents from VND200,000 - VND700,000 per room to share the burden resting on tenant shoulders.

In recent days, the People's Committee of Hoa Khanh Bac Ward in Lien Chieu District has successfully encouraged 475 landlords housing more than 2,800 rooms to reduce rents for workers and students with a total amount of nearly VND1.2 billion.

Although the rental is a civil relationship between the landlord and the tenant, the good thing is that many innkeepers only collect electricity, water bills and reduce 100% of the rental price for workers, students, and casual workers in order to help them join hands to overcome this tough period.

Besides, in addition to foodstuffs provided by the ward-level administration, a large number of landlords and other organisations have called for philanthropists to present hundreds of gifts to workers and students in difficult circustances.

In the face of ongoing COVID-19 resurgence nationwide, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs has just issued a dispatch requesting provinces and cities to support the poor, social protection beneficiaries, low-income earners and students.

At the same time, the ministry has proposed to exempt or reduce electricity prices and power bills in tandem with mobilising landlords for rent exemptions and reductions to help the poor overcome the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus wave.

Reporting by NGOC ĐOAN- Translating by T.VY