What do you do for gifts when you have 10 families renting? --75.167.xxx.xx

Buy my kids something nice. --174.201.xx.xx

Good question. For my 2 year HUD Section 8 residents $100 cash. Under 2 years $50. 5 years $200. I'm generous but these folks paid for my kids college when their own kids most likely will not attend. My A class properties... nothing. Few years i did buy poinsettias from the boy scouts that was a nice big impressive gift. That would cross a business boundry. That's how i handle it. And the PITA... prays. --99.203.xx.xxx

However, I do Christmas gifts for my handyguy, my plumbers, my electricians, my roofers, my a/c guy, etc, etc, etc... I usually set aside some homemade cookies while I'm doing my baking, and make up some nice little tins. --96.46.xxx.xx

--209.132.xxx.xxx

I don’t give tenants gifts. --174.199.x.xx

--71.198.xxx.xxx

I don't give my tenants Christmas gifts. In the past, I have sent them Christmas cards, but I don't do that anymore. --96.47.xxx.xx

--71.174.xxx.xx

Other years, candy, big tin of popcorn, Tumblers filled with candy, etc --216.68.xx.xxx

I send a card. I don't want to spend money on something they may consider "junk" and I don't want them to spend money on something I would consider junk. --173.61.xxx.xx

What are you doing buying Thank You Christmas gifts for Sect 8 residents? I'd think the fact my taxes are paying their rent would be thanks enough. --108.69.xxx.xxx

If I am home I take them a nice box of chocolates and if I am on vacation I send them the same. All tenants receive the same identical box. No favorites. --67.22.x.xxx

Once you give, they will be expecting more gifts in the future. --99.59.x.xxx

I do not send them to my tenants. --50.82.xxx.xxx

No Christmas presents from me to tenants. We have a business relationship not a friendship. I also do not want a gift from them. I might give something to one of my friends who does work in the trades, that has helped me when I call. But then they are also friends. --108.4.xxx.xx

I used to give scratchies or Dunkin Donuts cards only to see if 1 they reciprocated or 2 a simple thank u. It was minimal and some called me cheap. So that was the dead of that --66.30.xx.xx

--24.194.xx.xx

I read things on here and even though they don't make sense or apply, I stash them in the recesses of my cranial cavity to ponder at later times. The past few months I've asked folks if I had a Christmas luncheon if they'd come. I asked in the Recorder of Deeds Office, codes enforcement inspector, the Magistrate (and office employees at the counter), City Sewer and my constable... in other words, folks getting paid by tax dollars. These are people I've known business casually for many years. Every one of them said they'd love to come ... but they aren't permitted to do so. --72.70.xxx.xxx

$50 Amazon gift card for Christmas and birthday. Toy or $20 gift card for kids. --205.155.xxx.xx

I am new and will give my tenant a $25.00 gift card --199.218.xxx.x

I give more to my contractors. --216.252.xx.xx

Long term tenants get gift cards. This year I paid a couple of water bills for people I know are struggling....it was anonymous, but I know it will help them. Through the year I occasionally send little gifts to the children of tenants. Nothing outrageous, just to let them know that I think of them. I do appreciate most of my tenants. --24.89.xx.xx

I, too, am shocked at some of the responses. It’s not an “either/or” proposition. I provide quality rentals at below market prices, and I respond promptly to repair issues. I treat all my tenants with courtesy and respect, which I believe everyone is due. When necessary, I draw hard lines and file evictions. Most of my tenants realize that they hit the Landlord Jackpot when they rented one of my SFH or apartment units. At Christmas, I give handmade clay ornaments (I am a professional artist and writer, so it’s enjoyable for me to make these small appreciation gestures). I attach a card to each (VistaPrint) that has business name, phone, my first name and “We appreciate you!” I just finished reading the marketing strategies applied to landlording (purchased from Mr Landlord), and I’m more motivated than ever to continue this once-a-year gifting to my tenants. Some of my tenants have an entire collection of ornaments (each year I create a new design) I have made and have given to them over the many years they have occupied one of my rental properties. I’m glad to show my appreciation, because I realize that it is my TENANTS that are my REAL ASSETS, not the pieces of real estate I own. I do only WIN/WIN deals, and that’s worked out very well for me. I do not expect nor receive a gift from my tenants. This is a small gesture that costs me very little and often helps greatly with good tenant-landlord relationships. I highly recommend a small token to tenants at Christma time. . --99.110.xxx.xx

--70.171.x.xx

Lou [GA], that is the most awesome post. I agree wholeheartedly with your mindset. I truly adopted the give (gifting) without any expectation of receiving anything back mindset a long time ago. Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season to all!!! --75.146.xx.xxx

We may or may not, depends. For the sniveling princesses who keep clogging up the bathroom, complain or are afraid of every little stupid thing, nada. New tenants less than a year, nada. Long time residents and service providers, we give wine, specialty food items, something nice. --23.242.xxx.xx

Good service YEAR ROUND.... --65.202.xxx.xx

Dan --75.164.xxx.x

Landlords, please give me your opinion. Thank you! --24.0.xx.xx

To all those that said they are shocked at LL’s that don’t give tenants gifts, I’m shocked you’re shocked. Where’s it end, is every small and medium businesses in this country, in your opinion supposed to give gifts to customers? Because that’s exactly what a tenant is. It’s a business relationship, goods or services for a fee. You go ahead and keep giving a gift to your tenants, I respect that it’s your choice, but respect that some don’t. --174.199.x.xx

I used to send them all a card with a gift card inside . Since every single one of them has pi$$ed me off this - year I’m not sending them anything. Maybe I will send them all their yearly Christmas card, and when they open it up ( expecting to find their yearly gift card) they will instead find a bill for all the aggravation they have caused me throughput the year. --174.199.x.xx

We have in the past sent a letter thanking them for renting from us and given them $25 off the January rent. Maybe a couple out of 26 thanked us. Plus, oddly, the next year our move rate increased! Still thinking what to do this year. Keep those ideas coming. --96.35.xx.xxx

Do you expect extra gratitude from the super friendly counter person when you give them a tip? It’s nice if they acknowledge it, but you really are giving it to them to say thanks TO THEM. If you don’t feel it, don’t give it. --24.105.xxx.xx

Do you expect extra gratitude from the super friendly counter person when you give them a tip? It’s nice if they acknowledge it, but you really are giving it to them to say thanks TO THEM. If you don’t feel it, don’t give it. --24.105.xxx.xx

I used to send cards with lottery tickets and give move in gifts and all that jazz. But that's all went away with experience. --50.107.xxx.xxx

Good enough for us. --50.82.xxx.xxx

I actually give all of my tenants a $25 or $50 gift card at Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th July. It depends on the amount of rent they pay. I vary the type of gift card from restaurants, to movie to regular visa. --199.21.xxx.xx

Plenty---Sec 8 ? The TAXPAYERS paid for your kids'college education, not the sec 8 tenants! --73.141.xxx.xx

Section 8 tenants don't make enough money to afford a house to rent. My house is higher in rent than what they allow. They only get a percentage, and the higher percentage is when they don't work at all. They don't have money for oil or gas; hiring someone to mow/rake/bag the lawn-leaves; shovel the snow; and take care of things. on that basis, I don't want to be on Section 8. I need tenants that make enough money to afford to live there, as to evict them, is a nightmare I heard. I've heard horror stories. --24.0.xx.xx

--71.226.xxx.xx

Personally I think that there isn't a right or wrong reason to give or to not give our tenants a gift. Like most of the LLing issues that are discussed on this forum you need to take into consideration your own thoughts, your past experiences, your type of tenant, your class of rentals, your own financial situation & decide what works best for you at your present stage of LLing. --71.174.xxx.xx

I give each renter in a house $100 at one year. $200 on year 2 & thereafter. I record as a rent rebate. all my houses have 2-5 year renewals of existing renters. I have always turned rentals within 3 days (I offer immediate refund of deposits if vacant b4 eom) and all new renters have been referrals from leavers. to be pc: not xmas gifts but the “season”......in the big picture is little cost to me to maintain good relationships with renters. most are students so they like the cash... --104.218.xxx.xx

I've given move-in gifts, and not once have I gotten even a thank you note or email. If I send a Christmas card, I think it's decency to reciprocate with a card to the Landlord. --24.0.xx.xx

landlord: I never expect thank you’s & quite frankly if that is what you want then not in the spirit of giving....(?)...I give rebates as a business expense for client goodwill.. so a win-win..... --107.77.xxx.xx

People in higher income brackets don't need gifts or thank you's. Americans are spoiled people who don't appreciate small"thank you's" --69.53.xxx.xxx

People in higher income brackets don't need gifts or thank you's. Americans are spoiled people who don't appreciate small"thank you's" --69.53.xxx.xxx

People in higher income brackets don't need gifts or thank you's. Americans are spoiled people who don't appreciate small"thank you's" --69.53.xxx.xxx

I have been in the business for 3 years. I have class B properties and constantly make them look and work beautifully to the point that my tenants ask if they can buy my properties. I do so much for my tenants throughout the year such as free hair catchers for their bathtubs, sink dividers, oil tarps for under their cars, pick up their mail when they are on vacation, etc. I tried giving $10 gift cards but I have noticed that tenants don't even say thank you and are not apprective. I have decided it is best to buy and do things during the year for my tenants. I feel it is better to provide a great property and be helpful to my tenants throughout the year then to give a gift. --47.6.xx.xx

I find it interesting those of you who give your service people gifts! WE are their clients. As a freelancer, I gave my clients gifts because they employed me. --96.35.xxx.xxx

I send tenants a $15 gift card and a Christmas card to Tim Horton's with a handwritten note saying I appreciate having good tenants like them. I gave a $100 Duluth card to our handyman at Christmas and letting him know we wouldn't be where we are without him. --65.24.xx.xxx

I did local grocery store gift cards a few years ago and then between taxes and insurance, I was left with low funds so I stopped. I do have one tenant that works on occasion for me. She wanted some garage space to rent. I was already renting to another tenant for $5 a week and she knew that, so I told her $5 a week. I basically am just saving her money to give back to her. This year I have her $200 and bought her kid a new coat. I debate with myself what I am gonna do..and may go back to the local grocery store GC for 25 or 50. --69.160.xxx.xxx

Excellent comments from all of the above. I will give gifts to some of the renters I like who are pleasant and cooperative. Gifts will be large boxes of name brand chocolates or grocery store food trays that can be used for family or visitors. We don't expect or want gifts from our tenants. Gifts will be delivered a few days before Christmas. They seem to be appreciated. Makes us smile. --174.204.xx.xxx

--73.102.xxx.xxx

HMMMM, now I'm thinking about a Costco gift card so they can go get their ham or turkey themselves. It's pretty time consuming trying to get all the meats delivered to 10 different people. My husband doesn't like the gift card idea, too impersonal but he isn't the one trying to get everything delivered when someones home. Th card with gift card is looking good to me. --71.226.xxx.xx

The most I've ever done is last year when I donated a couple of pies to a potluck dinner the roomers were having for Christmas. I might consider giving them $25 gift cards to my local grocery store. That's something that I know they'll use. --64.121.xxx.xx

Also I don't think I want to give anything with an expectation I wouldget anything in return. All I expect is that they pay the rent and take care of the place. --64.121.xxx.xx

BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx

Tenants pay my bills and I don't like going without the income when they move out (haven't quite mastered that lesson from boot camp yet LOL) so I do what I can to ensure their happiness by staying proactive! --97.104.xxx.xxx

So they are "Clients" --- just I am a client from my Insurance Broker and I get a Christmas card from them (and I don't send one back). They're a business, i'm just 1 person who obtained a house that I decided to rent out (instead of sell it or live in it)....But I thank you for opening me up to accepting and mailed out a Christmas Card this morning! --24.0.xx.xx

One tenant has her boyfriend move in with her and I didn't raise her rent. I could have charged her $90 a month more, that's over $1000 for the year. I told her that I'm happy to give her a $25 gift card and I'll raise her rent too. All of a sudden she realized that I was more generous with my tenants over the year than a tiny gift card. --47.156.xxx.xxx

I give each of my tenants in good standing a Christmas card, and either a 4 lb. bag of navel oranges or a small box crate of clementine tangerines. Since they're in season, the average cost is less than $5.00, and it's a healthy treat for the holidays! --174.221.x.xxx