Do You Get Gifts from Tenants?

Question

Came home from a holiday trip to find a gift package and early rent from my 1st floor tenant. As she's my neighbor in addition to being my tenant, I took this as more of a "neighborly" act than a "tenant" act. However, it sparked the question, do you receive holiday gifts from your tenants?

Kaycee Miller · Answer

As renter, I would give my landlord a bottle of wine or a gift card to a coffee shop along with a personalized card with every December rent check. As a real estate writer, I write articles about gifts for landlords and gifts landlords can give their renters during the holidays this time of year. It's a nice gesture to form a personal landlord-tenant relationship.  However, this was the first year I did not personally send an extra gift to my landlord with my December rent check. Like Thomas S. says, I think it is nice but it can cross the line of professional vs friendly when it comes to a business relationship - which all landlord-tenant relationships should be.

Thomas S. · Answer

Yes I often do receive gifts from tenants. Especially the older ones.

It is somewhat uncomfortable however I convey to the tenant that their actions are appreciated. I always insure that my treatment of all tenants remains professional and unbiased.

John Casmon · Answer

It's a very nice gesture, but can be a bit uncomfortable, especially since we didn't give any gifts. I know some owners/managers like to give gifts, but I really wasn't expecting to receive anything and was completely caught off guard. In hindsight, I probably should have anticipated it as this same tenant brought my 2-year old son something from the Lego store in Minneapolis when she went for work and we had our son get a small gift for her dog as a thank you gesture. Tough to balance the professional from the personal when you live in the same building, but certainly don't want to present the appearance that preferential treatment is even possible.

Do You Get Gifts from Tenants?

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