A new survey shows that 1 in 3 tenant/landlord relationships are so good that gifts are exchanged between the two parties.

Landlord and tenant insurance provider Endsleigh’s survey of 2,645 landlords and tenants, as part of its ‘Better Relations’ campaign, found that 34% of landlords gave a welcome or farewell gift to a tenant.

Zoe Rose, Head of London Lettings at Strutt & Parker, said: “As agents we go one step further; we give every single one of our new tenants a welcome gift and card when they move in to wish them well, on behalf of our landlords.

"We find that this small gesture, given in person, is always greatly received and sets the tenancy up on a positive note. In an increasingly competitive industry, these little touches can go a long way. Giving gifts at seasonal junctures like Christmas and Easter also shows you really care.

"It’s all about perceptions and feeling that your landlord is looking after you makes a huge difference to tenants.”

Various acts of kindness

Some went even further with 30% of tenants saying that they had been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. These included:

• Help with DIY – 54%
• Bottle of wine – 29%

The most common gifts included bottles of wine (59%), cards (49%) and plants and flowers (25%) with less common gifts including Christmas hampers, home grown vegetables, gifts for children, rent free months during periods of unemployment and topped up gas and electricity meters.

These acts didn’t go unnoticed:

• 72% of tenants who were the recipient of such an act saying they now had a better perception of their landlord
• 70% who received an act of kindness stayed in their property for 2 years compared to just 53% who don’t receive such as act

Professionalism appreciated

While the gifts were welcome, the feeling between both tenants and landlords was that the relationship between the two should be seen as a professional one instead of a personal one.

Half of the landlords said a professional relationship with a tenant was preferable and 49% of tenants agreed.

When it came to being friendlier 36% of tenants welcomed this while just 21% of landlords wanted things to get friendlier.

Endsleigh's lettings and landlords manager Marcus Latchford says that the best letting relationships are when there’s a good working relationship and that it is important to remain professional as a landlord.

But he did suggest that tenants do appreciate a personal touch when moving in with a welcome hamper going helping to start the relationship on a good foot.

Endsleigh has collected the insights from the survey and created its ‘Better Relations’ hub.