A landlord has been shamed for demanding his tenants to tip him 25 per cent when paying their rent - as he 'makes sure they have a safe home'. Real estate investors Kevin Shippee and Matthew Totroreillo, known as @twoguystakeonrealestate online, have come under fire on TikTok after sharing a clip explaining why tenants should tip their landlords.
In their sketch, a 'tenant' is seen paying their rent to their 'landlord' before being prompted to leave a 15 per cent, 20 per cent, or 25 per cent tip - or enter their own custom amount. The 'tenant' says: "A tip? I'm not tipping my landlord." In response, the 'landlord' says: "So you'll tip a barista who pours overpriced coffee into a cup but not the guy who is on call 24/7 to make sure you have a safe home.
"So you'll tip an extra 25 per cent for somebody to carry you a basket of chicken wings but you won't tip someone who responds to after hour emergency calls.
"I guess when it's time for your lease renewal, I'm going to make sure gratuities included in your rent."
However, users argued making a tenant pay gratuities is "absurd" and could leave renters hundreds out of pocket when all call outs should already be covered in their rent.
One user commented: "Gratuity for a landlord doing his legal obligation is frankly absurd and likely illegal."
Another user added: "I have a tip, don't be a landlord if you hate the job requirements so much."
"The hard, hard life of a landlord, they have to wait for your rent money and believe it or not they have to take phone called and proceed to do nothing," a third user said.
One more user added: "I'm going to tell my landlord he has to tip me 50 per cent for keeping his property safe and secured as bodyguard work is not free or expected."
Others pointed out how a 25 per cent tip at a restaurant is "nothing" compared to being asked to pay a 25 tip on a months' rent.
"25 per cent on a $1600 rent may be a little more than 25 per cent on $27 bill from a restaurant," said one user.
Another user added: "On call 24/7, except after 5pm it's $50 to come out."
One more user said: "The profit you make IS your tip. Leave those underpaid service workers alone!"
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