Renters: do you always negotiate rent increases?

[Deleted]

it shouldn't hurt to ask, right?

I'd give it a shot but I wouldn't push too hard.

[Jem]

Most places I've/we've moved out of after 1 lease, but we've been in our current place for the past 4 years and we've negotiated with each renewal. We even got them to reduce our rent one year! We are not renewing this time, but their offer was only a $25 increase - which I thought was amazing since last time they tried to raise it $300 (we negotiated to $100).

So I say negotiate, it can't hurt.

[phillyrunner]

We've lived in the same apartment (also a large building with corporate landlord) for 4 years, and every year we negotiate our rent. We usually meet them right in the middle. For instance, this year they tried to raise our rent by $150/month, and we were able to get the increase down to $75/month more.

[cahabalily]

For a large place like that I wouldn't expect them to budge much if at all, but you should absolutely ask. It costs more to flip an apt than to keep a resident. Ask around to gauge market rents in the area and go from there.

[hannamaren]

I agree. They dont want to have to find someone else.
However, then I think of my landlord. We were bought out by a new company. The old company never raised our rent in 4 yrs. the new company raised it within 4 mths. But there are laws about maximum percent increases. I am sure the landlord wants us out so they can hike the rent.
I would try. They arent going to say "nope, and because you tried, you are evicted" i would call them or email them and highlight what good and easy tenants you are with few needs, etc.

[karinothing]

We try. They knocked $75 off last time. But there is always someone else to take my place so it isn't easy.

[karinothing]

Aug 3, 2012 19:29:37 GMT -5 v said:

Aug 3, 2012 19:20:53 GMT -5 hannamaren said:

But there are laws about maximum percent increases.

We don't have those laws (unless you're in a rent stabilized apartment, which we aren't). I was expecting 10%, and have heard of people getting hit with 20%, so sadly that it is only 5% really is a blessing.

But paying the rent every month is a little

I know what you mean! Ours has gone up 10% each year (well 10% minus the $75 we negotiated). I hope it is only 5% this year, but I doubt it.

[bronxgirl]

I don't think it ever hurts to try to negotiate (and you're a big bad corporate litigator!), but honestly, in that neighborhood it wouldn't be hard to find new tennants quickly so I'm not sure it would work. On the other hand- you've got nothing to lose. I live in a rent stabilized apartment and 5% rent increases are typical, so that's not too bad of an increase on the free market. Would they let you do a 2 year lease to lock in a rate?

[macmars45]

In the 3.5 years we've been in our apartment they haven't increased our rent at all. They stated that they won't unless we go month to month and then I think it was only $25 more a month.

[insominac]

We've lived here for maybe four years and our rent hasnt been raised at all. We'd probably move if they did. Maybe rent a house or something.

[pantsparty]

If it's a corporate lease, look at the website (or call) to see if there are any special offers for new tenants. See if you can match that deal.

We've had our rent raised once by $25 living in the same place for 4 years. We didn't fight the increase.

[orchideous]

Ask! From the property management side it's always cheaper to keep the current resident's in the unit. There are lots of costs associated with someone leaving: time to do walk-thru, exit interview, turning the unit (time and materials), advertising the unit, time approving applicant, new lease signing, utilities during the lapse of residents, etc.
From a financial standpoint it make more sense to keep current residents in unless they are grossly underpaying what you could rent the unit for now.

Stand your ground. We have LOTS of flexibility in our company with rent increases and I think most places do as well.

Good luck!

[kadams767]

If I am remembering your rent amount correctly from when you posted, I would definitely at least ask. Even though 5% seems fair on it's face, it's a big increase at your rent. That, coupled with the 11.5% increase last year, would make negotiating worth it. It isn't as though they are suddenly making less money on your apartment or it's costing them more. They just want more cash, so I would try to talk them down at least a little.

[kershnic]

It never hurts to ask, but as I'm sure you know unfortunately the turn around costs that others have mentioned are less significant in this market because if you did move your apartment will not sit vacant for long.

[elizabethann]

Just turned in our renewal agreement today, they only asked $41 extra per month (<$500 extra for the year) and they are giving us a $200 gift card for a really nice steakhouse nearby that we will use for our wedding anniversary dinner... I love our place so it was worth the ~$300 net increase to stay another year considering how much we pay to live here already.

[hazel]

We lived in the same apartment for 4 years and it never worked for us. Every year we'd look at different complexes after getting our rent increase (it was usually the max - 10%), but overall we liked our complex and it would have balanced out by the time we paid to move. It was really frustrating since we were such good tenants.