With Christmas just one week away, I'd like to do a survey. What Christmas present do you offer your tenants - if any? Is it universal, or predicated upon a specific tenant's attitude, performance or payment history? This subject csme up at our housing provider weekly luncheon last week, and the answers really varied. As for myself, I drop off at their rental a card along with small case of clementine tangerines or a 4-5 lb. bag of navel oranges. Only once, last year in fact, did I not give one PIA tenant a present (just a card). She was continually abusing certain privileges and didn't always follow some of the rules she had previously agreed to. She eventually moved out at the end of her one year lease term. --174.239.xxx.xx

I've never had any tenant give a present to me and it is rare that one of them sends me a Christmas card. --76.178.xxx.xxx

We don't do that here. It ends up being an expensive no one wants and gifts no one wants except for one unit. There is a brother and sister there for many years and they give me either a large poinsettia or candy. I give them a little gift bag with some goodies in them. They celebrate Hannukah but flirt with Christmas. Usually it's some techy funny gadget but this year it will be those little head band lights and a pack of batteries. Those help me a lot and I want to share that usefulness. And a Merry Christmas to you Santas and Grinches, you know who you are. --173.61.xxx.xxx

Absolutely nothing,I dont want to confuse our relationship,we are not friends --74.77.xx.xx

I’m putting rent bills in envelopes to send out tomorrow. Does that count? --174.198.xx.xxx

Actually, I just gave one the happy clause today. If they make good on it, it’ll be a Christmas present to both of us. --174.198.xx.xxx

I send cookies to our contractors through Amazon and they DO appreciate that, even though it's a small gift I get heartfelt thank-yous. --173.28.xx.xxx

I give my tenants the same thing that Verizon, Comcast, and the power company give their customers. --172.58.xxx.xx

WMH, I've never entertained that thought before. It should pay dividends in the future, when their services will once again be needed. Thank you! --174.239.xxx.xx

We are not friends. We have a business relationship. When I still had my W2 I didn't buy gifts for the people I worked around. --107.147.xx.xxx

I'm with the majority sentiment of not giving gifts. If I happen to be texting or in communication with them during the holidays, I'll wish them a happy holiday, but that's it. --172.56.xxx.x

I've stopped. But for years, the good years, but for years $100 cash in a card. Hand delivered. But since the government hands out money I don't any more. These were for my section 8 residents. My A and B units got a poinsettia or nothing. They expect nothing it's all business with them. The D units it's more about relationships. --172.59.xxx.xxx

We gift clean and maintained residences to our tenants. In turn, they send us monthly financial acknowledgements. --71.198.xxx.xxx

--73.190.xxx.xxx

I would joyfully give the dog a gift though. Even a big hug. --73.190.xxx.xxx

Gilligan ! --69.130.xxx.xxx

They receive the gift of quality service and affordable housing all year round. I have never felt they required Christmas gifts as well. --24.236.xx.xx

Hmmm my cleaning lady and the garbage men provide a service to me and I tip them around christmas. I provide a service to my tenants. Shouldn't my tenants be giving me a gift? I'll be looking forward to it. I hope it's a box of mrs. see's nuts and chews! --96.242.xx.xx

No gifts for residents, but a few have given me a card or gift card. One was to red lobster, so I went, what horrible over cooked ruined 'sea' food. --77.111.xxx.xx

They are also getting a 14 day notice, certified and reg mail. LOL --172.59.xxx.xxx

Do a little more each day and each day a little more will be expected. --172.59.xxx.xxx

When they ask for volunteers take one step back. --107.147.xx.xxx

I used to give $25 gas cards to tenants. Not anymore. I simply am a responsive landlord which is gift enough. My issue isn’t retaining tenants. Since my issue is getting contractors to take my calls, I give $100 visa gift cards to the contractors that are loyal to me, go above and beyond, etc. They get them more than at Christmas. I keep 1 or 2 in my bag. I have never given one to my flooring guy before, but this summer I had a flooded unit and he measured, ordered the carpet and then it turned into a bigger project and he had to store that carpet for almost 2 months. As much as I apologized and he said it wasn’t an issue, that gift card means there will be no issues or raised pricing just because it wasn’t smooth last time. My HVAC guy replaced a boiler this fall/winter but due to a medical issue couldn’t drive. His wife drove him and the van 2 days in a row. She got a gift card. Those prompt payments and gift cards make a difference. If I was a slow paying, ungrateful, difficult client, I bet that would have been at least a week of waiting on a new boiler. When my plumber and electrician end up working late to finish a job, they get one to take their wife out to dinner. They always take my calls and I couldn’t run my business without them. --73.159.xxx.xx

Stay away from anything to do with any religious holiday. Why give the Fair Housing advocates any toehold against you? --73.141.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx

A nice gift if you want to send out to RESIDENTIAL tenants is a card with a $20 coupon if January is paid on time. --24.101.xxx.xxx

Wow, great ideas on those gatherings. --96.242.xx.xx

I give $100 bill to each tenant in a house. all my renters are referrals from prior tenants. I appreciate them choosing to rent my houses. I record as a rent rebate on the books. --12.232.xxx.xx

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx

We always forget any kind of move-in 'present' except a new shower curtain (we keep a supply of hookless ones on hand.) Getting the keys early is about the best we can do sometimes (move-in is at noon, sometimes we can release the keys in the morning.) --173.28.xx.xxx

They don’t leave M&M’s at move out, but they leave empty wrappers. I gave ice pops and some other stuff early on in my “make it perfect for them” antics and shortly after move in, I was picking up empty wrappers all over the yard. That ended that nonsense. --24.152.xxx.xx

--73.103.xxx.xxx

Last couple years we gave $25 off the January rent. Last year exactly one person said thank you. This year they got asphalt parking lots instead! --96.35.x.xx

I always give $10 check in a Christmas card--Tho card comes from the dollar store --68.2.xx.xxx