Rent relief a lifesaver for Tasmanian students

“We’ve been so lucky”: $100 a fortnight has helped students through the toughest months of the coronavirus pandemic.

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RENT relief to the tune of $100 a fortnight has helped students Richard Devadhar and Thushan Thanabalasingham through the toughest months of COVID.

The pair were contacted by the owner of their Warrane home in the early days of the pandemic who rang to check on their welfare and to ask whether they were in financial need.

The result was a 10-week rent reduction agreement and the owner applying on their behalf to the state government residential relief scheme. The pair are now supported by the one-off $2000 payment.

Bangladeshi nationals Thushan Thanabalasinghan (left) and Richard Devadhar negotiated a rent reduction with their landlord during COVID. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“We’ve been so lucky,” said Mr Thanabalasingham, 26, a hospitality worker who has struggled to find work since moving from Melbourne in January. “Our landlord’s been really good with us and it’s helped so much. It does make a difference.”

For the pair, the 11 per cent waiver has helped with the grocery bills.

“We’ve had to use up all our savings until now,” said Mr Thanabalasingham. “I had saved up a bit to go travelling.”

As international visa holders, the students are ineligible for job keeper payments. Instead, they were able to access superannuation, which they say while helpful has impacted on their financial stability.

Students Thushan Thanabalasinghan (left) and Richard Devadhar negotiated a rent reduction with their landlord during COVID. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Acting principal solicitor of the Tenants’ Union of Tasmania, Ben Bartl says the rental relief arrangement is an example of tenants and landlords working together to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

“To hear that landlords have reached out to tenants, particularly those who have been known to be in financial difficulty, and voluntarily agreed to reduce the amount to ensure both the tenant has a roof over their head and provide some ongoing funding to the landlord is encouraging,” Mr Bartl said.

The boys’ landlord, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she is not the only residential property owner to enter into voluntary payments with tenants.

“Like a lot of landlords I have a lot of empathy, These are good, reliable tenants. They’ve always paid their rent on time and they keep the house well so I didn’t want to see them stressed because they’re not eligible for government payments,” she said.

“The most disappointing thing is those abusers who spoil it for everyone else.

“I’m fortunate enough that I can afford to cover that $100 a fortnight difference, whereas I know that a lot of landlords are not in that position because other bills haven’t stopped.”