A nationwide property management company has changed the wording of its advice to landlords wanting to offer rent holidays to tenants struggling during the Covid-19 shutdown.

Photo: 123rf

Property Brokers had been suggesting on its website that landlords offer grocery vouchers or help paying power bills as an alternative to rent holidays.

Chief executive Bill Highet said in hindsight the advice had been poorly worded.

"We accept that our phrasing was inartful and that our intent was not clear. We apologise for the confusion this has caused and we have rephrased this content on our website."

Highet said that the company's 70 property managers were working hard to find solutions that best suited its landlords and tenants at this difficult time.

That included offering rental holidays and rental discounts to tenants, he said.

"A number of our landlords have taken this step where they could afford it and we have been more than happy to facilitate that."

Highet said, however, the majority of the company's clients did not own multiply properties and depended on the income of a single investment property.

"For those clients, rent continuity is crucial and we are encouraging them to work with their tenants to make sure they get all the (government) help they are entitled to. This is in the interests of both tenants and landlords."

He said consistent with the goverment's call to be kind it also sought to encourage our landlords to find other ways to help their tenants through the crisis - including help with bills.