NYC Landlord Waives April Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants Due To Coronavirus

April 4, 2020

A landlord in Brooklyn, NY, announced on Monday that he will waive April's rent for all of his residential and commercial tenants.

Mario Salerno / Credit: NY Times

Mario Salerno, who has 18 apartment buildings with hundreds of tenants, said he did not want renters to stress about their payment during the Coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm really not concerned about the rent right now, I'm concerned about peoples' health. Not only are we up against an epidemic, these poor people have no jobs and they're worried about getting sick. I didn't think it was much on a person like me, who god was good to, to help them all out," he told GreenPointers.com.

Salerno, 59, posted a letter at the entrance of his apartment buildings with the announcement that April's rent will be waived for all tenants:

"Due to the recent pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19 affecting all of us, please note I am waiving rent for the month of April 2020," the letter states.

"They're all very appreciative. I told them ‘make sure you help your neighbor,'" Salerno said.

Salerno said that he hopes everyone in NYC will work together where they can to get past the pandemic.

"If everyone could stay home, take care each other; whoever is fortunate to work, please try to help the person who can't put food on the table," he said.