A Christmas Gift: One Week’s Rent Absolutely Free

It might not be Christmas Day yet, but a family in semi-rural New South Wales, Australia has been given an early Christmas present to kick off the season of giving. A week’s worth of rent, absolutely free.

Laura and Samuel Bowen and their four children moved into the Bellington property that they now call home around ten months ago. During that time, the family has been model tenants, paying their rent on time and looking after the property.

But just because you’re a good tenant doesn’t mean that you’re without your own difficulties. The family is currently suffering some financial difficulties and their landlords are well aware that in order to make ends meet, the Bowens, like many other Aussie renters, have had to tighten their belts a number of times.

Robin Williams, who owns the property with her husband Paul, explains;

“These guys are your true Aussie battlers, a couple with a blended family of four kids, one working while the other is trying to make a go of a home business whilst studying.”

“They are great reliable tenants, but like hundreds of thousands of other Aussie battlers (both young families and aged pensioners), they (the Bowens) live in a constant state of survival mode where every cent is carefully accounted for, a ripple in the routine means something has to go.”

This December however, the Bowens won’t have to account AU$250 to cover one week’s rental. Every little cent helps, right? And they’re hoping their story and their landlord’s act of charity will encourage other landlords with tenants suffering financial hardship to spread this same generosity. Full details of their Christmas challenge can be found on their Facebook page.

Mrs Bowen says of the movement;

“We thought; imagine if this happened to a whole lot of other tenants this Christmas.”

Her message is:

“Give them a week rent free between now and Christmas and show the rest of the world that inAustraliawe not only look after our own but know the true meaning of Christmas.”