Nationwide — Travis Johnson, an African American landlord from Portsmouth, Virginia, surprised all of his tenants this season by announcing that their rent would be completely free for the holidays.
One of those tenants, Missy Waller, moved into her Portsmouth home just three months ago. She said she’s still settling in, and with the holidays approaching, decorating and daily expenses can quickly become overwhelming. Between a $1,400 monthly rent payment and helping support a son in college, Waller said every dollar matters.
That’s why the announcement on November 13 felt life-changing. Johnson told his renters that both their November and December payments were covered—no strings attached. “It was a big relief,” Waller said. “It was like a bookbag of bricks off my back.”
According to KBTX, Johnson, who rents out 12 homes in Portsmouth and has been a landlord for eight years, said he knows firsthand what it’s like to struggle with housing costs. His own past challenges, he explained, inspired him to step in and offer his tenants a financial break during a stressful time of year.
As the owner of Homebridge Health Care Co., a home renovation company, Johnson operates with a simple motto: pay it forward. He said he encourages everyone connected to his business—clients, employees, and even strangers—to do the same.
And his holiday generosity isn’t over. Johnson said he still has six more homes to visit and plans to personally knock on doors to let those tenants know their December rent is also free. With her biggest burden lifted, Waller can now focus on turning her new house into a true home.