Christmas gifts for tenants

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Christmas gifts for tenants

Michael Williams
Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes

Is it a good idea to give tenants Christmas gifts? I give tenants target gift cards with a nice note, they’ve payed their rent on time and they have not caused any major damage to the property. Anyone gift their tenants Christmas gifts?

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Mike A.
Port Chester, NY · Member since 2016 · 210 posts · 157 votes
4y

We gave every tenant a $25.00 American Express gift card as a token and for the hard times everyone has experienced over the last year.  Out of 90+ tenants, only one reached out and said thank you.  We will not be doing this annually moving forward.

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    4y

    I don't, but I'm not big on gifts period.  I often send them an email or a card wishing them a Merry Christmas, but that's it.

    1Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    4y

    I don't believe Landlords should build personal relationships with their Tenants, but others disagree and have done it for years without problems. It's a personal decision.

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  • Brandon RushPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Portland, CT · Member since 2019 · 761 posts · 849 votes
    4y

    Definitely a personal decision. I do not do it but I can see the benefits in it, positive reinforcement I guess. What my tenants get for paying rent is a place to live and an attentive landlord. Giving them gifts for paying rent is like giving your employees gift cards for showing up to work everyday. (In my opinion)

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  • Jim K.
    Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    In my view, which I've stated often and loudly here, if my wife and I were to give one of my tenants in my tenant class (low C-class) any sort of gift on Christmas, especially something they would not normally buy for themselves, they would understand the cost of it came out of the rent they paid us, interpret our actions as a cynical, manipulative ploy, and then resent us for it. The only gift I have ever given tenants like these is a significant break on December rent.

    On the other hand, we do run ONE rental, the upstairs of our over-under duplex, where our tenants are grad students of expensive private universities, and children of cosigners on their lease who own substantial homes and even rentals themselves. We offer these upstairs tenants small household gifts all the time, especially around the holidays, especially the ones who end up stranded in the apartment over winter break working on projects/internships/campus jobs. This to date has not affected our landlord-tenant relationship negatively.

    2Reply
  • Brendon Pishny
    Investor · Olathe, KS · Member since 2017 · 123 posts · 99 votes
    4y

    @Michael Williams

    I send a box of chocolates around Thanksgiving. It’s more of an “I appreciate you” gift. Many reach out and tell me thank you. I agree it’s a personal decision. If they have a house to live in and get good service that should be enough. I do it just because it makes me feel good to treat those who have been a great tenant all year. Hope that helps.

    1Reply
  • Karl B.
    Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    Brand new tenants (a few months or less) don't get a gift card from me but tenants who have been there for the latter part of a year or longer (and have shown they're a drama-free tenant who pays on time and doesn't incur me unnecessary costs such as a high water bill due to an unreported running toilet) receives a gift card that can be used at several local restaurants along with a Karl-approved Christmas card :-).

    It's a small token to show I appreciate them and I like the fact they can enjoy a meal out and have a nice time at no cost to them. 

    1Reply
  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y

    We don’t give gifts 🎁. The folks I have treated the nicest don’t pay on time…. No more MR. Nice Guy. 

    1Reply
  • Alexander Szikla
    Real Estate Agent · New York City · Member since 2020 · 819 posts · 641 votes
    4y

    Yes, I do give my tenants gift cards - I feel that if a gift card reduces turnover by even just 1% the return on that investment is tremendous. 

    1Reply
  • Todor Ialamov
    Real Estate Agent · Burlington MA · Member since 2018 · 114 posts · 142 votes
    4y

    @Michael Williams

    I do understand we should treat this as a business and keep the relationship with tenants as such. But we are also humans and I don’t see anything wrong with showing our appreciation.

    Every Christmas I get my tenants a nice gift card for a local restaurant.

    I have only seen a positive response.

    1Reply
  • Ron H.
    Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2017 · 159 posts · 116 votes
    4y

    When we did student rent by the room rentals we would give each person a nice but  inexpensive (to us) gift box full of college food and items.  The students that were fully self supporting greatly appreciated it.  The students who had parents fully funding them could have cared less.  Now that I am only renting by the house to mostly families we don't keep as close a connection to the tenants and do not give gifts of any kind.

    1Reply
  • Mike A.
    Port Chester, NY · Member since 2016 · 210 posts · 157 votes
    4y

    We gave every tenant a $25.00 American Express gift card as a token and for the hard times everyone has experienced over the last year.  Out of 90+ tenants, only one reached out and said thank you.  We will not be doing this annually moving forward.

    5Reply
  • Tim Miller
    Rental Property Investor · Laurel, MD · Member since 2016 · 383 posts · 382 votes
    4y

    We use a third party service to create the gift cards and holiday cards. We sign it from our company and they mail each card to our tenants.

    This way we are keeping our distance but still saying thanks.

    2Reply
  • Greg M.
    Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    4y

    I send them a card with a lease renewal showing the 10% rate increase. Then with a red pen I strikethrough the 10% and write 8% Merry Christmas. This keeps it professional, but in the holiday spirits.

    Um, no, I don't send them any holiday gifts. I recall giving one tenant a holiday gift once, but that was because I hired him to do some work in his usual profession and he did a great job. Tenants are only going to look at the gift like they paid for it. 

    3Reply
  • Patrick Britton
    Ann Arbor, MI · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 997 votes
    4y

    I dont give my Tesla shares a present.  So why do my tenants get anything?  

    2Reply
  • Patrick M.
    Rental Property Investor · Red Bank, NJ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    I am a vocal advocate of not giving gifts. I have heard it justified as a retention mechanism, timely rent mechanism, gratitude for upholding the lease mechanism, etc.

    I am the best landlord my tenants will ever have. That is my gift to them, and it is no small feat. I respond immediately to problems and address issues in a very timely manner. I do not gouge on rent increases. I fulfill every aspect of my lease terms with a smile and I do not spare a nickel when it comes to repairing and replacing things. 

    If a tenant decided to uproot themselves because they did not get a $25 Amazon card then I would have taken it as a blessing. Clearly I made some mistake in the vetting process and I should not have rented to them.

    I am very grateful for my units, I am very grateful that my tenants uphold their lease terms and I am very grateful that when politicians told them not to pay rent- they paid it as they should have.

    I show my gratitude in being the best landlord there is, not by buying some silly gift card.

    3Reply
  • Josue Vargas
    Real Estate Agent · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2017 · 814 posts · 466 votes
    4y

    No, the best Christmas gift you can give them is a well managed property and taking care of them.  They will pay or not pay rent on time, regardless of gift cards.  Some exceptions applies, like marketing for leads stuff such as postcard with some money value, but I would not target them individually. 

    1Reply
  • Tony Guardado
    Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2014 · 74 posts · 28 votes
    4y

    @Tim Miller who is the 3rd party

    1Reply
  • Frank Pulice
    Rental Property Investor · Weehawken, NJ · Member since 2021 · 15 posts · 12 votes
    4y

    @Michael Williams

    I do give my tenants Christmas gifts. I believe being a landlord is a customer service industry. Renters are spending tens of thousands of dollars a year at your business. If you ran a shop or other service related business you would probably thank your good customers at the end of the year with a small token of appreciation.

    2Reply
  • Bud Gaffney
    Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    Slippery slope!

    2Reply
  • Tim Miller
    Rental Property Investor · Laurel, MD · Member since 2016 · 383 posts · 382 votes
    4y

    @Tony Guardado We use GiftCardMall.com or just GiftCard.com, you can upload your own image or use a stock one. 

    0Reply
  • Justin Fox
    Software Developer · Vidor, TX · Member since 2015 · 922 posts · 639 votes
    4y

    Personally, if my landlord had the extra money to get me a gift, I would perceive that as them overcharging on rent.  Why not keep the gift and instead make my rent a few dollars cheaper per month?  

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  • Eric GoldmanBusiness Member
    Lender · PA · Member since 2019 · 359 posts · 192 votes
    4y

    usually some gift baskets. 

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  • Michael Williams
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Theresa Harris:

    I don't, but I'm not big on gifts period.  I often send them an email or a card wishing them a Merry Christmas, but that's it.

    I like that idea too, something to let them know their in our thoughts. 

    1Reply
  • Michael Williams
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Nathan Gesner:

    I don't believe Landlords should build personal relationships with their Tenants, but others disagree and have done it for years without problems. It's a personal decision.

    We do not interact with our tenants on a personal level, we'll give a "Welcome Home" card and flowers when they move in and a Christmas card during the holidays.

    1Reply
  • Michael Williams
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2017 · 202 posts · 82 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Brandon Rush:

    Definitely a personal decision. I do not do it but I can see the benefits in it, positive reinforcement I guess. What my tenants get for paying rent is a place to live and an attentive landlord. Giving them gifts for paying rent is like giving your employees gift cards for showing up to work everyday. (In my opinion)

    Currently I only have two units, it is more of a positive reinforcement tactic. We'll give a "Welcome Home" card and flowers when they move in and a Christmas card during the holidays. 

    0Reply
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