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Updated 8 months ago, 05/04/2024
Tenant asking for personal favors
This is my first rental property I am managing myself. I have had one before but had a PM. In this case, the rental is next door so my tenant is also my next door neighbor. I am finding it complicates the relationship because I want to be friendly and neighborly yet also need to set boundaries as I know landlords need to be firm sometimes. But I think I have been very responsive to her requests thus far and have been polite and professionally friendly.
The other night she texted me in the evening and asked me if I would print a document out for her from a USB drive. I was kind of taken a back about this and didn't reply until several hours later (politely told her I am sorry that I can't help with that). I was thinking to myself that is a personal favor, and has nothing to do with my responsibility as a landlord and I was shocked she would think it was appropriate to ask. Also it's just unwise to put any unknown USB into one's computer.
Maybe I am being a jerk and should be more willing to help out with non landlord duties? Am I overreacting or would you have found her request inappropriate as well?