handling a tenant giving you a holiday gift

[Colleen F.]

First ,  i don't give my tenants gifts.  I've given it some though but its not really my style so for now we have opted out and it has never been an issue. I got a message today from a tenant who has been with us for about two months asking when I would be around she has something for me.  I am really not comfortable accepting gifts.  I am hoping this is cookies or a fruitcake which would be thoughtful but not too uncomfortable. However if it is a gift like her voicemail states I would like to end the practice. Has anyone had tenants try to gift you? how do you deal with it?  I really just want to be the landlord not her friend but don't want to insult her.

[Kyle Hipp]

I would say thank you and acknowledge the thoughtfulness of the gesture. Then ask how everything thing is at the property. I would not say that you do not want gifts in he future. I would say this is more of an issue about your comfort level and might be beneficial to just appreciate the gesture. You don't need to return the gesture nor does it in anyway give the tenant leverage. A gift is just that, something to show appreciation,  not me thing that puts you in debt to them. Just my thoughts....