When living in an apartment having maintenance workers come in and fix issues is very common. One common question that I get asked a lot is “Should I be tipping my apartment maintenance workers”. This is commonly asked because the workers are providing you a service and you aren’t directly paying. This is because it falls under your lease agreement.
The answer is no, you shouldn’t tip your apartment maintenance workers cash.
Although, If you are feeling like they did a good job and deserve something extra then go ahead. I recommend giving them a cold drink or a snack.
Why shouldn’t you tip your maintenance workers?
You might think I’m being a bad guy for saying this. Maintenance workers are not in the business of receiving tips. They should be paid by the apartment complex for their work. This money comes from you paying your rent. This service is included and the main reason people choose to rent instead of buy. They don’t want to deal with the regular maintenance that comes with owning a property.
especially when the maintenance workers are from a 3rd party and not employees of the apartment complex. If they are 3rd party maintenance workers they are definitely charging what they need from the maintenance job.
How much should I tip maintenance for holidays?
Tipping on holidays is up to the individual renter. I’d recommend anywhere from a $20-$100 tip for holidays. This is a nice gesture especially if they have done their job correctly. With these tips a small amount can go a long way. They will remember it the next time there is an issue with your apartment.
Should I give a maintenance worker alcohol?
No, I would avoid giving any alcohol to workers that come to your residence. If they need to drive home or work on someone else’s unit it could cause issues. Not to mention you don’t want somebody drinking while working on your unit.
