A Belfast landlord has been praised for reducing rent in order to help his tenant during the cost of living crisis.
Thomas Blockley spoke to Belfast Live about receiving the news from his property agent that his landlord would be reducing his rent by £50 a month in order to help him as the cost of living increases.
The one property landlord made the decision unprompted by Thomas, who felt it was a very kind and considerate thing for the landlord to do.
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Thomas said: "My landlord only has one property and the only other income they have is from their pension so for them to reduce the rent like this for me is very thoughtful.
"He came to the agent with the suggestion completely unprompted in order to help out during the cost of living crisis. I have not been in the property for a year yet, so they don't owe me anything.
"I think this is a very nice gesture for them to make, especially when they are likely to be feeling the pinch too.
"This really will have a big impact for me and I hope that other landlords will be able to see what they have done and hopefully do the same for others during what will be difficult times for a lot of people."
Estate Agent Asleigh McQuilan, of AS Residential, said she was moved by the gesture the landlord made and the impact that it had on Thomas.
She said: "When I received this email I was moved, equally so when I received Thomas's elated reply once I had informed him.
"I would love to see more of this but understand not everyone is in a position to do so. I know that landlords and letting agents often get bad press and so hopefully people reading about this will see that we're not all 'made of the same stuff'.
"I have also reduced the landlord's annual management fee as a gesture of 'paying it forward'."
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