Rent Overpayment Advice

[Bruce Gardner]

One of my tenants overpaid their rent (by 14%, not just a few bucks).  I know why (they mistakenly thought they had to pay for something that I had agreed to cover).  It's their money, I'm giving it back...my question is:

1)  Give it back in the form of a "refund"?

2)  Apply it to future rent?

3)  Something else I haven't thought of?

Applying it to future rent is "easier", but I like the idea of keeping "clean" books and handling the refund separately from future rents. Does this really even matter?

What do y'all think?