Can you negotiate rent?

By Jared McKinney

Do you consider yourself a negotiator? Have you ever tried to negotiate rent?

Rent is one of the things that everyone views as a necessary evil. People just accept that they will have to pay the rent that the property manager sets for a property. However, this might not actually be necessary and it is possible to negotiate rent in most cases.

If you have ever wanted to negotiate your  lease or wanted to try to get cheaper rent for a property, keep verb usage consistent you should not be afraid to try.

There are some great ways to negotiate for better rent prices. learn these tips and tricks to make the rental market work in your favor for a change.

If you are ready to learn more about the ways that you can negotiate for a better repetitive  price, read on!

Can you negotiate rent to save money in every location?

The reality is that some locations (you might want to use cities) are so competitive that you will not be able to negotiate your rent price This is especially true in large cities and even some college campus rental property

However, you might find that there are still properties nearby with a property manager in place that will be open to discussing lower rent. You should look into all of your options before you give up and pay whatever apartment rent is asked for without questions. Be wary of saying “yous should”, some readers will be rubbed the wrong way.

When to negotiate rent with a property manager

The timing of your request can drastically affect make a big difference to your likelihood of success.


This is particularly true if you are trying to change your current lease or you are negotiating rent after a change to the number of occupants that are living in your apartment.


Here are the best times to try and negotiate rent with a property manager:


  • At the end of the month


This is when landlords are  words like very can lead towards/weaker sentence. busy and when they are sometimes struggling to get properties rented out. Negotiating rent changes during this time works well because landlords (practice the one on one off rule: one by name, one by generic description) will have bills to pay and won't want you to leave. You will have the most leverage at this time of the month, particularly if there are a lot of open apartments in your building.


  • When your lease is almost up


If your lease is nearly ending, you can (sometimes) succeed in negotiating rent with your landlord during this time. This is particularly true if you have been living in your apartment or home for a long time. If your landlord feels like you might leave a property that is providing secure rent money to them each month, they  might be more likely to work with you 



  • When there is a property manager change


If there’s a change in the property manager or a new landlord buys the property, you will have a chance to negotiate rent. A good tenant is valuable to new managers who have come into the picture and new property managers might be willing to make sure that you are going to stay before your lease expires. You might not get another opportunity that is this good again.


  • In the winter


In many areas, it can be hard to keep a good tenant over the harsh winter months 


This means you will have moreleverage if the winter has set in.. A reliable tenant is valuable and the winter months can be a hard time for property managers who are trying to get people to stick with a longer lease.


  • If you can stay in the area for a while (what constitutes a while)


Negotiating a new rent payment can be much easier if you are able to sign up for a long lease


If you are willing to sign up for another year or two or three, you can usually negotiate lower rent with your landlord. Not every apartment complex offers these kinds of lease agreements, but if they do, this is the perfect chance to look for a rent discount. Longer lease times usually result in lower rent prices.


How much can you lower rent by negotiating?

The answer to this can vary depending on your location and the demand for your apartment or home. Experiencing a rent increase after years of living in the same place can be a huge blow but there may not be much that you can do about it if the area that you are living in is an up and coming city or county.

Even if your rent is only lowered by $100 a month, it’s important to think about how much money that will save you over the course of a year. This is why it is almost always worth negotiating  your rent being lowered. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all.

One of the best ways to make sure that your rent is decreased, is to remind the landlord that you have completed improvements or maintenance to the property that would have cost them a significant amount of money. You can also take the time to look at other local rent prices and show your landlord that you are overpaying for what their property offers.

Marketplace competition is often what drives rent prices up, but sometimes landlords (become) greedy when they think that you will pay more because you do not want to move. If you can prove that your rent is not competitive with the local area, you might be able to have some luck getting your rent payment decreased.

What else can you ask for? If you are not successful when you try to lower your rent payment, you can also negotiate with the landlord or property manager for other items. In some cases you You might want to avoid apartment hunting.  There there are other points you can ask for that will make your rent better suited for your needs.




Negotiate a better deal on rent by asking for perks like free parking.

  • Free parking space

This is one of the best ways to negotiate for more value on  your rent. The rental industry is built upon charging tenants for “extras.” You might be able to get this expenditure wrapped up into your rent and get yourself a free parking space all year.

  • Upgrades

Maybe you are tired of the screen doors that don’t work on your home, or you want better windows installed. Do your research ahead of time and be prepared to ask for improvements that will make you happier about paying rent.

  • Added Storage

This can be aneasy negotiating point. If there are storage units in your apartment complex, you might be able to obtain access to one of these units as part of your decreased rental rates. 

Negotiating rent prices could be easy


If you are tired of paying more than you think your apartment or home is worth, you might want to (need can sound harsh) consider talking to your leasing manager or landlord about reducing your payment each month. 


Picking the right timing and having the right demands ready can help you get exactly what you want out of your rental price negotiations.


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