How to Write a Eulogy for Your Landlord - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for a landlord can feel weird and delicate. Maybe they were a neighbor and friend, maybe they were strictly professional and polite, or maybe your relationship included disputes and awkwardness. This guide helps you find the right tone, structure, and words whether you are a tenant who knew them well or someone representing a whole building. Expect plain language, real examples you can adapt, and practical tips for delivery.

Who this guide is for

This article is for tenants, neighbors, building managers, and anyone asked to speak about a landlord at a funeral, memorial, or celebration of life. If you are nervous about whether you have permission to speak, or if you are worried about how to acknowledge a complicated relationship, this guide walks you through options that are respectful and honest.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech given to honor a person who has died. It is usually part of a funeral or memorial service. A eulogy is different from an obituary. An obituary is a written notice with basic facts and service details. A eulogy is personal. It tells a story, remembers character, and often includes short anecdotes that make the person feel real to people who knew them and to people who did not.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A published notice about a death that typically includes biographical details and information about services.
• Order of service The sequence of events for a funeral or memorial so everyone knows what comes next.
• Estate The assets and affairs a person leaves behind. This is handled by an executor if there is a will.
• Executor The person named to manage the deceased person s estate and final affairs.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering focused on stories, photos, and remembering the person s spirit.
• Officiant The person who leads the service. This could be a religious leader, a funeral director, or a friend chosen to guide the event.
• Tenant association A group of tenants who meet to discuss building issues. Sometimes a member will speak at a landlord s service on behalf of residents.

Should you give a eulogy for your landlord

Short answer, yes you can if you have something meaningful to say and you have permission. Ask a close family member or the person organizing the service if they welcome remarks from tenants or neighbors. If the family prefers a private funeral, respect that. If the family has invited community members to speak, a thoughtful short tribute can be very meaningful.

If you were a tenant who had an antagonistic relationship with the landlord, consider whether the service is the appropriate place to air grievances. You can be honest and still kind. You can also offer to write something for the family to read privately if public remarks feel risky.

How long should a eulogy be

Aim for two to five minutes. That usually equals about 300 to 700 spoken words. Shorter speeches tend to be more memorable and less emotionally risky. If multiple people are speaking, coordinate length so the event stays on schedule.

Before you start writing

Use this quick plan to avoid overthinking.

• Confirm permission Ask the family or the officiant if they want tenant or neighbor speakers.
• Decide the tone Do you want to be formal, warm, funny, or simple and respectful? Ask yourself what would best honor the person.
• Gather memories Ask other tenants or neighbors for one memory each. Short, specific stories beat long lists of facts.
• Pick three focus points Choose up to three things you want listeners to remember about them. Three points are manageable and give shape to your remarks.

Simple structure that works

A reliable structure keeps you steady and helps listeners stay with you.

• Opening Say who you are and your relationship to the landlord.
• Life sketch Offer a brief overview of who they were in the context of your story. Keep it short and relevant.
• Anecdotes Share one or two short stories that reveal character, habit, or the way they showed up.
• Impact Explain in a sentence or two how they affected you or the building community.
• Closing Say a simple goodbye line, a short quote, or a call to action such as planting a tree or contributing to a charity the landlord supported.

How to write the opening

Start clear and simple. State your name and your relationship. A single honest sentence about the landlord sets the tone and gives you a moment to breathe.

Opening examples

• Hello, my name is Maya and I have lived in 4B for five years. I wanted to say a few words about Sam, our landlord and sometimes the person who fixed my leaky sink at midnight.
• Hi, I am Jamal, I managed the building s community garden and I am here to remember Mr Garcia, who started that garden with a single crate of soil.
• Good afternoon. My name is Priya. I was a tenant in Unit 3A. I am grateful for the chance to speak about how Mrs Nguyen showed up for the neighborhood in small, steady ways.

Writing the life sketch

The life sketch is not a full biography. Pick the facts that matter for your story. Mention roles like landlord, neighbor, volunteer, hobbyist, or parent. If you do not know many personal facts, focus on the ways they acted in the community and the character you observed.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] managed this building for [number] years. They cared about making homes safe and affordable. They liked to greet tenants by name and remember birthdays even when the rest of us forgot.
• [Name] grew up in [place]. They loved gardening and always had a patch of herbs by the back stairs. They taught several of us how to grow tomatoes on a windowsill.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories are what people remember. Pick short, sensory anecdotes with a clear payoff. A good anecdote has a setup, an action, and a takeaway that explains why the memory matters.

Examples of short anecdotes

• When my heater failed in a blizzard, they drove across town with a space heater and a thermos of hot tea. That felt like more than a landlord duty. It felt like care.
• They had a rule that tenants could paint one wall as long as they asked. The first tenant who painted asked for blue and they actually brought a coat of primer the next day to help. That small kindness meant a lot.
• On Thursday mornings they would sweep the stoop and whistle like a radio. Neighbors started calling it Thursday clean up and it became a community ritual.

Addressing complicated relationships

Not all landlord tenant relationships are easy. If your relationship was strained you can be honest without being cruel. Acknowledging complexity can feel authentic and mature.

Examples for complicated relationships

• We had disagreements about rent increases and repairs. Even in the hard conversations they answered emails late at night and they showed up for inspections. That showed a sense of responsibility even when we did not agree.
• Our landlord was strict and sometimes frustrating. They could also be fair and they listened when tenants organized to suggest improvements. That mattered in practical ways.
• We never became friends, but they made sure the building was a safe place to live and that made a difference in all of our lives.

Using humor safely

Light humor can breathe room into a memorial. Keep jokes kind and small. Avoid anything that would embarrass family or single out individuals. Humor should be rooted in a shared memory.

Safe humor examples

• They had one rule about the laundry room. If you took someone else s spot you had to leave a note that said I apologize and I will bring cookies. We never got the cookies but the notes made us laugh.
• They replied to texts with a string of emojis that became their signature. We called it the landlord s shorthand and it made late night maintenance texts feel slightly less tense.

What to avoid in a eulogy for a landlord

• Avoid making the eulogy a place for ongoing disputes or legal grievances.
• Avoid airing private tenant information or gossip that could hurt others.
• Avoid long lists of repairs completed. Instead pick one or two stories that show the person s values.
• Avoid sarcasm that might be misread in a grief setting.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples that follow the structure above. Replace bracketed text with your details and read them out loud to make sure the voice sounds like you.

Example 1: Friendly landlord who was a neighbor and friend

Hello, my name is Alex and I have lived in Unit 2C for seven years. When I moved in I met Linda at the mailbox. She was our landlord and she made it clear this building was meant to be a home and not just an investment.

Linda grew up nearby and always knew which tenants needed help. She had a way of showing up with a toolkit and a story. One winter my pipes froze and she came over, fixed them, and then sat with me drinking instant coffee while the heat came back. She did not need to stay. She stayed because she cared.

She also loved to garden. The tiny strip behind the building is full of tomatoes because Linda believed that even a small patch of green can do a lot for someone s mood. That garden became a community corner where neighbors who never spoke now swapped recipes.

We will miss her practical kindness, the laughter down the hallway on Saturday mornings, and the way she remembered birthdays. Thank you for being here to celebrate Linda s life and to keep the garden she started growing in our memory.

Example 2: Short, formal tribute from a tenants group

Good afternoon. I am Rosa and I represent the tenants association of Elm Street Apartments. On behalf of the residents I want to say that Mr Patel was a steady presence in this building. He managed the property for over twenty years and always tried to keep repairs timely.

Mr Patel welcomed several of us when we first moved to the city and he supported neighborhood events. We appreciated his practical care and his willingness to listen. We extend our condolences to his family and we thank him for the years he helped make this building a safe place to call home.

Example 3: Complicated relationship handled with honesty

My name is Teresa. I lived on the second floor. Our relationship with John could be tense. There were disagreements over maintenance and the rent roll. Still he showed up when there were emergencies and he would negotiate when tenants organized and presented clear requests.

He was not perfect. None of us are. But he left us with a building that keeps its doors open and with a memory of someone who tried to do right by the people who lived there. For that I am grateful.

Example 4: Light and funny memory with sincerity

Hi everyone. I am Omar and I lived in 5D. If you ever met Ms Reynolds you know she had two rules. Rule one was do not feed the pigeons, and rule two was call her if you accidentally flooded the bathroom. She kept a towel and a stern look on standby.

Her sense of humor and her strict pigeon policy made living here oddly comforting. She had a laugh that sounded like a short trumpet and she used it when tenants brought good news. I will miss that laugh and the way she ran a building with a lot of heart and a small collection of rubber boots.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to create a draft fast. Edit for your own voice and for the facts you know.

Template A: Classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I lived in [Unit Number] and I want to say a few words about [Landlord s Name]. [Landlord s Name] managed the building for [number] years. They were known for [one trait]. One memory that shows who they were is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson or impact]. Thank you for being here to remember them.

Template B: For complicated relationships

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with [Landlord s Name] had its ups and downs. We disagreed about [small example], but we also had moments where they stepped up, like [helpful action]. I think when someone shows up for people in need it matters. Today I remember that bit of decency.

Template C: Group tribute from tenants

Hi. I am [Your Name] representing the tenants of [Building Name]. As a community we appreciated [Landlord s Name] for [one thing]. Whether it was [example] or [example], they tried to make this place feel like home. We offer our condolences to their family and our thanks for the time they spent here.

Practical tips for delivery

• Print your speech Use large font. Paper can feel steadier than a phone when emotions run high.
• Use cue cards One or two lines per card help you stay on track and reduce the risk of losing your place.
• Mark pauses Indicate where you expect applause or a laugh. Pauses give you time to breathe and to let the audience react.
• Practice out loud Read your words to a friend, a neighbor, or even into your phone. Hearing the words helps find your natural rhythm.
• Bring a backup Leave a copy with the officiant or a close family member in case you need help or if you want the family to have the text.
• Ask a friend to introduce you If you are nervous, have a friend give a quick intro and then hand you the mic. That can feel less exposed.

When you might cry while reading

Tears are normal. Pause, breathe, take a sip of water, and continue when you are ready. If you fear you cannot finish, arrange for someone to be ready to step in. Having a few printed closing lines in a friends hand can be a helpful safety net.

Including readings, poems, and music

Short poems or readings work best. If you choose a poem, pick a two to four line excerpt rather than a long piece. If you include music, check with the family about appropriate songs and timing. Keep any musical interludes brief and supportive of the speech.

Practical logistics and permissions

• Ask the family or the person organizing the service if tenants are welcome to speak.
• Confirm where to stand and how long you should speak.
• If you plan to read personal tenant anecdotes that include other people, get permission from anyone mentioned.
• If donations or memorial contributions are requested, mention them briefly only if the family has authorized it.

How to share the eulogy afterwards

Offer to email a copy to the family or to the tenants group. Some families appreciate a printed copy for a memory book. If you record the speech, check with the family before posting online. Respect privacy and the family s wishes.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech honoring a person who has died.
• Obituary A written announcement of death with service details.
• Order of service The schedule for the event so attendees know what to expect.
• Estate The deceased s assets and belongings, handled by an executor.
• Executor The person legally responsible for carrying out the deceased s will.
• Officiant The person leading the funeral or memorial.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tenant give a eulogy for a landlord

Yes, if the family or the person organizing the service invites remarks from tenants. If the event is private or the family prefers not to include tenant speakers, respect their wishes. If you are unsure, ask before preparing a long speech.

What if our relationship with the landlord was mostly business

That is okay. You can focus on practical impacts such as the ways they maintained the building or helped during emergencies. Small, honest details about how they made life easier for tenants often feel meaningful.

Can I mention disputes or unpaid repairs

Publicly airing grievances at a memorial is rarely helpful. If you feel there are unresolved issues that need attention, consider writing to the executor or property manager. If you must mention difficulties, do so briefly and with restraint, focusing on facts rather than accusation.

How do I start if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your unit number or role, then say one small true sentence about the landlord. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It will give you a steady place to begin.

Should I coordinate with other tenants who want to speak

Yes. Coordinate length and topics to avoid repetition. Decide who will cover which memories so the service flows and everyone who wants to speak gets a chance.

Is it okay to include humor

Yes, gentle humor grounded in shared memories is often welcome. Keep jokes kind and avoid anything that could embarrass family or other tenants.

What if I forget my place or cry

Pause, breathe, and look at your notes. The audience will wait. If needed, have a friend ready to step in. Many people appreciate a brief pause over a rushed finish.

Should I provide a copy of my eulogy to the family

Yes. Offer a printed or emailed copy. Families often want a text for a memory book or for sharing with relatives who could not attend.