Apartment Searching

Can you negotiate apartment rent? 5 key tactics to know

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Paying the lowest possible monthly rent isn’t just about watching online listings with an eagle eye or settling for lower-quality digs. It’s about the deal you strike with your potential landlord. In fact, signing a new lease offers far more opportunities than most people realize to negotiate lower rent. Even better, you don’t have to be aggressive or cold-blooded! If you go about it right, the negotiation will leave everyone happy. Is rent negotiable? How do you negotiate rent? Where do you start? You may be wondering, how to negotiate apartment rent. Here are five tactics to help you establish good footing with the landlord and put you on the path to successfully negotiating rent on  a lease agreement:

1. Do your research

Don’t go into a lease agreement or rental property hunting blindly. Rental trends change depending on the rental market. Will rent go down in 2023 or will it skyrocket? Do some research when you’re seeking out your perfect new abode and the different types of apartments available. Review sample lease agreements online and get a feel for what legal details to look out for when it’s time to sit down and sign on that bottom line. If you have a legal expert in your family or friend circle—even better. If they’re familiar with lease terms and terminology, ask them to sit down with you and look it over so you can learn how to navigate the document for yourself and formulate a list of questions prior to moving into a new apartment. After building your knowledge, you can discuss the details with your landlord before signing, protecting yourself and mitigating risk from the start. From this point forward you’ll have the experience needed to insist on changes and a keener sense of your rights as a renter.

2. Get the lay of the land

When you’re looking for that new perfect place to call home, make a list of pros and cons for each apartment complex you interact with and the general logistics of navigating the neighborhoods and their amenities.  Can errands be accomplished on foot? Is there good public transit? Is the neighborhood bikeable? Where is the nearest grocery store and laundromat? What about recreation, like parks or accessible nightlife? Think about reasonable access to parking and storage. When the folks at the other end of the negotiating table know you’re well versed in the surrounding area, they’ll be less likely to gloss over any specific property amenity shortcomings with appealing local conveniences or attractions. And you can get right to the heart of what you’re getting out of this new living arrangement. 

3. Visit similar properties

Knowing what comparable properties (comps) offer in a certain rent price range helps a new tenant assess the real value of a place – and gives you negotiating power for rent decrease if you decide to apply. So tour as many properties as you can before making any rash decisions to really learn the rental market in an area. If you are being billed a premium rental price but the craftsmanship is shoddy, you’re not getting your money’s worth. You could then negotiate repairs or upgrades before moving in, a cheaper rent for false advertising, or a smaller security deposit. It also pays to have some basic knowledge of what home inspectors look for when assisting new home buyers. Do some research on home inspection standards so you get a better-trained eye for things like good water pressure and other system operability. Don’t worry – you don’t need to get obsessed with the details, but having a general awareness of potential issues will help you know what’s fair – and when you can reasonably request a rent reduction. You want to be armed to address such concerns in the walkthrough and lease negotiation stages.

4. Think like a realtor

Having some professional knowledge in the business of renting an apartment will make you more resilient in any apartment renting scenario. When interacting with the property manager or landlord, you want to present as someone who doesn’t fall prey to aggressive sales tactics that favor only property owners. It’ll also help you recognize a legitimate request when the owner makes one. We promise you’ll feel more comfortable in the end by familiarizing yourself in advance with the process of dealing with property managers, leasing agents, and direct owners. Not all properties operate the same way. Additionally, it’s easier for the property manager to find tenants in the summer months, so offering to end your lease term during this time will likely garner you some negotiating mileage.

5. Be prepared for a little give-and-take

Being prepared to give up something less important (e.g. a parking space) might help you snag a monthly rental rate reduction. You might prefer amenity upgrades or extras like gym privileges for signing a longer lease, such as a two-year lease instead of a standard one-year lease, which could also protect you from a potential rent increase the next year. If you aren’t able or willing to pay the posted rent rate, try suggesting a rate you are more willing to compromise on. Meet them halfway. If the monthly rent is $100 more than your target, it’s reasonable to offer $50 and see if together you can reach an agreement. In this rent negotiation scenario you should be able to support your reasoning with research and by reassuring them that you’re a good tenant and good neighbor with outstanding references.

Hopefully, these 5 tactics will help you negotiate for a better lease rate. But what if you realize that you want to get out of your lease? How do you break a lease agreement? Visit our blog for more on how to legally get out of a lease.

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