Good tenants, helped us out, give them $?

[wdfifteen]

Easy renters are indeed a blessing. Do what you need to do to make them known they are appreciated.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Superman

This is my perspective.

The difference in cost between a good renter/good relationship and bad renter is significantly more than $100. Pick the right people and take good care of them.

Yes of course but it seems the question is evolving into -how-.

IMO a thoughtful gift of appropriate value actually indicates a specific effort and it also safely places it in a different column than the business arrangement of rent. Just because.

[Cooper911SC]

Definitely kick them back something. Gift card would be appreciated.

I’m coming from the past renters side...
I’m a good guy, handy, motivated, Boy Scout type.

Wife and I rented in an 1800’s boarding house that was “converted” to small apartments in the early-mid 1900’s... charming place in Old Town Orange.

Fixed the double hung window weights so we could open windows without a prop, fixed damaged and outdated sprinkler systems around property... got sick and tired of hearing splashing water from geyser sprinklers at 3am and other random times.

Repaired oak flooring in a couple units.

The landlord was mildly appreciative over some stuff. Finally figured out I was a good guy and then started asking me to fix things when other tenants complained. I should have charged more. LOL!

At the time I was younger and just wanted a nice place to live and save $$. In hindsight the landlord was just interested in collecting the checks every month and didn’t give 2 💩’s.
(Had roof leaks until I went to the city and complained). Sad.

A kind thank you and a gift card will go a long way!

[Holger]

Good tenants!
I would send them a voucher for a good restaurant or something ^

[WPOZZZ]

Good tenants are far and few between. A little thank you will go a long way. No cash, but gift cards are appreciated.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Good tenants are far and few between.....

Though I've had mostly good ones, as an amateur LL (who doesn't want to be one really), a "perfect" tenant who only stays for one year is a "bad" one....for me. When I get one that's gonna park there for years....I'm in heaven . Have one property where I've dropped the rent by $50/mo ....'cause the hubby (retired atty.) is in prison....why you may ask....just because. My world doesn't revolve around $....those folk(s) will be in the house indefinitely...."perfect" in every way. I'll never raise rent on a tenant btw....though the market says I should....the longer they stay, while taking care of my house(s)....the happier my life is. I'm contemplating dropping the rent by $50/mo on another couple I've had for 6 years now too (another atty and LEO hubby). I'm nuts anyways...renting to lawyers in the first place I reckon . It's just a casual sideline, I don't need the cash flow, etc. I have another property that I could easily rent....sits empty, and has for a decade...the $ don't matter, and I just don't want too...

Mebbe I just suck at this LL game....but I enjoy a hassle free suck. Good tenants are pure gold, and I hate to see them leave...many stay for 5+ years....works for me....YMMV.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Exactly. I was a landlord for over ten years and easy keeper renters are a blessing.

I wouldn't do cash or in kind rent deduction...gift card, worth $50, and a note of appreciation.

Nicely done for even thinking about this, HD. Little graces go a long way.

I do think a nicely written note, and a gift card would speak more of your effort to make it a point of thanking them, rather than just knocking some $$$ off the rent.

Good tennants are rare, just like good landlords.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I do think a nicely written note, and a gift card would speak more of your effort to make it a point of thanking them, rather than just knocking some $$$ off the rent.

Good tennants are rare, just like good landlords.

+1 on personal note and gift card...

I never increased the rent on good tenants.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by CalPersFatCat

No. It is very magnanimous of you to provide a washing machine for them. Allowing them to arrange for repair of the washing machine may have been a win for you (hands off and it just occurred) but it was also a win for them. The washer was back in service lickety split.

Unless you don't care about cash flow and the rental is just a capital appreciation play, it is a bad idea to train the tenant that maintenance issues are conducted with an open checkbook.

I am guilty of the same thing. I have a 40 ft shipping container that I keep stocked with extra glass top ranges and refrigerators. When a tenant has an issue, I have a replacement for them within a couple of hours. My reputation is that I get things handled immediately, therefore I have dozens and dozens of frivolous requests pending at all times.

Training tenants must be systematic and ongoing. YMMV.

DL

^^^This. Thank them...and if they are great tenants, remind them when you increase the rent a bit less than you might have when you renew their lease.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by fintstone

^^^This. Thank them...and if they are great tenants, remind them when you increase the rent a bit less than you might have when you renew their lease.

Different strokes....if "it's ALL about the $$$", then your approach is better...no doubt about it. I just don't live that way...never have, never will...

[drcoastline]

Good tenants are hard to come by. So are good landlords and it sounds as though you are a good landlord. So the door swings both ways. Landlord tenant law does not favor the landlord so you need be careful and not set a president that deviates to far from your lease or the law. A small gift and a thank you for helping out this one time is one thing but don't let it become a habit.

When a tenant moved into one of my properties everything was in working order. We did a walk through and they signed off. The lease read that the tenant was responsible for the service call and the first $50.00 of any repair. If a repair exceeded $50.00 It became my responsibility and decision to repair or replace the appliance.

The relationship may not always be amicable. Unfortunately you need to keep an eye toward litigation. If the relationship should turn and become litigious you don't want to walk into court with an ambiguous relationship because you deviated from the lease/law.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Baz

I would do it. In the long run it causes more good than harm.

Originally Posted by Superman

This is my perspective.

The difference in cost between a good renter/good relationship and bad renter is significantly more than $100. Pick the right people and take good care of them.

How many rental units do you own?

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by KC911

Different strokes....if "it's ALL about the $$$", then your approach is better...no doubt about it. I just don't live that way...never have, never will...

They get the same savings either way (less of a rent increase or a gift now)...but them calling the repairman and billing you should not garner them instant cash reward. It is a bad idea to "train" them to have such expectations.

Ultimately, a rental property is not charity for most folks. Both the landlord and tenant should expect to receive/pay approximately the market rate. All my rentals are in great shape, located in sought-out, in-demand neighborhoods and are kept up/updated to as well or better than the neighborhood (and maintained better than my personal home). As a landlord, my goal is to walk a fine line between keeping good tenants and the high end of market rate (if my property is excellent/excellently maintained. A tenant should expect similar and appreciate any willingness to not adjust the rent upwards...as costs always rise (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.). Obviously, if a tenant helps keep costs down (without just ignoring needed repairs), it allows me to keep the rent lower. It does not meant that I rent property as some sort of charity.

Personally, I never put a washer and dryer a rental house as it is common for tenants to provide their own (most already have them and no place to store theirs) and they seem to require a lot more repair in rentals than is case my personal appliances. If you provide a washer and dryer, you should increase the rent to accommodate the upgrade and potential expense.

[KFC911]

We're just different fint

....and there's nuthin' wrong with that either.