How do you negotiate with landlord/property manager to not raise your rent?

[raccoon]

My lease ends in spring. I'll probably stay, but as you know, usually they jack up the rent by at least a little each year.

Anyone successfully negotiated for this?

[wicket]

1. Wish I knew...

Our rent just went up by $100 a month :/

[skipos]

2. I have had a landlord who didn't raise my rent for years

I paid on time and I actually fixed up a few things around the place, so that helped my cause.

I told my landlord that I would really prefer to stay, but I didn't think I could afford it if the rent went up even a little bit. It was as simple as that, and I didn't see any downside to saying this to him.

Landlords don't like the idea of having to look for tenants, and in some cities it is a bit of a "renters market."

[Captain Hilts]

4. But after about 4 years, the financial incentives are to get folks out so the rent can be raised

dramatically with little hassle.

[skipos]

8. I rented a place for 10 years

It was $725 a month when I went in, and $750 when I left.

There is no harm in asking. Of course every landlord is going to be different about this.

[Captain Hilts]

13. The pressures on the East Coast are more intense. nt

[skipos]

5. It might be a good idea to look around and see what is cheaper

You can say something to the effect of "I'd really prefer to stay here, but I probably won't be able to afford it if you raise the rent at all. There is a place down the street that is only $XXX a month. It's not as nice as your place, but I am not in the financial position to live where ever I want."

[Statistical]

6. This.

Another tip let him know in advance. Tell him/her you can't afford rate increase so you wanted to bring it up early to know if you need to start looking for another place.

Most landlords right now would rather forgo an extra $100 per month than risk having a vacant unit which may be vacant for 2,3,6, 12 months = $0 per month until occupied.

Also "good" tenants (non disruptive, few complaints, keeps unit in good condition, requires little manpower) are hard to find.

[skipos]

10. Good point. And depending on where the OP lives

there are probably certain times of the year where the landlord doesn't mind people leaving, and certain times of the year when he hates it. I live in a college town and an empty apartment in the winter is probably going to stay empty until the summer.

[Captain Hilts]

3. In Maryland it will do you no good. I tried without success. Now, they're going to kick me out

renovate, then raise the rent by $500 per month.

[meegbear]

7. The issue(s) would be ...

how long have you been there and what is your relationship with them?

Also, have you made any big purchases recently? If your car died and you had to buy a new one, you could use that to show your financial situation. Of course, if you just bought a new 42" flatscreen, that could be held against you.

[leveymg]

9. Paint or improve the place on your own nickle.

Get the landlord's permission first for anything major, of course. That way you get to enjoy the improved surroundings and have substantial good-faith going into negotiations. This only works for human landlords, not big companies.

We did this and the landlord didn't raise the rent for years. We ended up buying the place from him.

Good luck.

[TexasObserver]

11. You have a duty to give notice, so read your lease and find it.

It's important, because if you let the notice period pass without giving the landlord notice, he's got you by the short and curlies. And he'll know it. Usually, the lease requires you to give the landlord 30 days written notice, even if you're simply planning on moving at the end of the term. You might think that since your lease is a year, it automatically expires at the end of the year, but it doesn't. If you don't give notice, you are often deemed to have agreed to an automatic renewal of some term of the lease, usually a 30 day month to month arrangement by contract or law.

You can get the upper hand by negotiating now. You could tell the landlord you'll go ahead and sign a new lease at the same monthly rate, but if he's going up next spring, to tell you now, so you can start looking. Also, make sure he knows that unless you have a deal before the notice period arrives, you'll give notice to cover yourself.

What this strategem does is give the landlord a decision. He can nail down you for the next year beyond spring 2010, or he can wait and maybe see you leave if he doesn't nail down the price now.

Even though the lease isn't scheduled to roll over until spring, you and the landlord are always free to extend the lease by signing an addendum that follows the requirements of the lease for such a change.

If you go see your landlord now, that will let them know you're serious about either getting the new lease signed at the right price, or moving out. Landlords want to keep all tenants who pay well, who pay promptly, and who don't cause them trouble. If that's you, the landlord will not want to see your place go vacant for even a month. That means painting the place and cleaning the carpets and showing the place for the landlord.

Good luck. Early bird catches the worm.

[SoCalDem]

12. If the landlord is an individual, you might be able to negotiate, BUT

if the place you rent is handled by a management company/agency, you may be out of luck.

and it depends on how many vacancies there are in your area. If there's a shortage of rentals, you may have no argument, but if there are empty places all over, the landlord may be ready to cut a deal with you..

good luck :)

[stray cat]

14. You can find another place and sometimes they will keep it steady to keep you

or offer to sign a two year lease in exchange.