Rent Negotiation for Apartments Articles | Apartment Living

By: J.Morgan

Considering just how difficult it can be to try and find an apartment that meets your requirements, it’s hardly surprising that the vast majority of people tend to rush head first into signing the lease agreement. However, as the saying goes, one should look before you leap and this is especially relevant when it comes to lease agreements. Irrespective of how good the deal seems you really should take the time to study the lease agreement carefully before signing on the dotted line, in order to satisfy yourself that you’re happy with the terms, or at least that you’ll be happy with them for the duration on the lease period.

Once you sign on the dotted line you’ll be obligated to honor the contract, irrespective of whether or not you fully understood it or even whether or not you agreed with it. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you fully understand the terms of the lease and that you discuss with the landlord, any part thereof which you don’t. Don’t hesitate to ask questions relating to any aspect of the lease whatsoever because after all, it’s you that is going to have to abide by it for the full duration.

While many people believe that you either have to accept a lease or find a different apartment, this is definitely not the case. In many instances you can negotiate with the landlord in order to have certain changes made, and to maximize your chances of success, simply follow these few basic steps:

Step 1:
Familiarize yourself with the landlord by making an attempt to know them a little better. While certain factors such as whether you’re dealing with the owner of a complex or simply a representative will have an impact. Nevertheless, getting to know the landlord a little better will in turn give you more bargaining power.

Step 2
Just as you should get to know the landlord better, so too should you allow him to get to know you. Doing this doesn’t require any special skills so simply be yourself and of course show some respect and courtesy simply because if roles were reversed, you’d appreciate the same treatment. Another advantage of this is that you will be establishing a certain degree of trust which automatically puts you in a better position to discuss any changes.

Step 3
Of course it’s pointless trying to negotiate the terms of a lease if you don’t stand any chance of renting the apartment in the first place, so first ascertain that you do in fact qualify. A golden rule which cannot be emphasized enough is that you should under no circumstances attempt to negotiate the terms of a lease in the presence of other tenants. In the event that privacy is lacking at the time you wish to discuss terms, simply request or at least suggest that the landlord sets a time which would be more convenient for discussing lease details.

Step 4
Rather than simply handing over a list of changes you’d like to see, sit down and discuss these points with the landlord, at the same time explaining your reasons and/or primary concerns. Of course, if you already have a reputation of being a desirable tenant then this can count tremendously in your favor as the landlord’s business depends on good tenants in the first place. Having said this, the landlord may not be familiar with your past reputation, in which case you may need to point it out but be sure to do so politely.

Step 5
This last step is absolutely fundamental and that is, any changes which have been agreed on need to be on paper. Yes, unless you have it in writing, you won’t have a leg to stand on if any of the changes are later challenged. Admittedly, it can sometimes be an awkward position but if you utilize a little diplomacy, you’ll avoid implying that you lack trust in the landlord, which of course could be detrimental to your success.

By following the steps listed above, lease negotiation need not be as difficult as one would imagine, providing of course that you remain flexible as well, at least to a certain extent. In reality, there are many instances where a potential tenant and a landlord simply cannot come to a suitable agreement and if this is the case, don’t waste anymore time. Simply move on and keep looking until you do find that perfect apartment.