In other words, you have more leverage than you think, and you should use that leverage to negotiate the terms of a lease before you sign it. Below, I've highlighted 12 details in most any lease that you should try to change in your favor when considering a rental. You might not succeed in getting all (or any) of these concessions, but it’s always worth trying.
The market. Look at comparable rents in the area—including other units in the same building. If those rents are lower across the board, use that to argue for a lower rent.
Your own worth as a tenant. If you’ve got references from prior landlords, a great credit report, and deep roots in the area, you’re exactly the kind of tenant they want, so they might be willing to get you into their building with a break on the rent.
Security deposit
Security deposits act as insurance for the landlord—if you damage the property or try to skip out on your rent, they can cover their losses using them. While there are usually laws governing the maximum amount a landlord can demand, how those funds are handled during your tenancy, and the process of getting the money back when you move out, landlords don’t have to demand a security deposit at all, and they can choose to require a smaller one. If you have a great rental history filled with glowing references, ask your potential landlord to reduce the amount they want for a security deposit—or even waive it altogether.
A sense of permanence and stability. Since you won’t have to start looking for a new apartment in a year, you can put down some roots.
Stable (lower?) rent. A longer lease can lock in your current rent, avoiding automatic annual increases. You can even argue that since you’re sparing your landlord the trouble of finding a new tenant next year, you should get a break on the rent right now.
Appliances
This can also be part of your overall rent negotiation. If the landlord is asking for a rent that scrapes the top of the market, pointing out that the appliances are old and probably not working well might result in either a lower rent or new appliances. Either way, it’s a win.
Additionally, you can negotiate how much you can change the apartment yourself. The classic move is to negotiate a small break in the rent or security deposit in exchange for painting the whole apartment—the free labor benefits the landlord, but you also get a fresh, clean space to call your own. You can also negotiate permission to change things like cabinet pulls, door hardware, and window treatments that might otherwise get you into trouble.
Cleaning obligations
It’s generally understood that you’re responsible for cleaning your apartment. But you can ask your landlord to pay for a cleaning service, and it might be in their best interests to do it. You’ll probably never do as good a job cleaning as a professional, and having a service come in regularly will keep their property in tip-top shape. It won’t hurt to suggest this when you’re going back and forth over a lease agreement.
Amenities
Landlords often list the amenities that come with an apartment as a way of luring potential tenants. An on-site gym, wifi throughout, swimming pools, party rooms, roof decks—the list of amenities can be pretty impressive. And costly, as many apartments charge monthly fees for these services. It can be well worth your time to try to get these fees waived or discounted, or to get amenities normally reserved for higher rents added to your lease. If the landlord is having trouble filling their units, this is often an easy concession to make, since they’re already providing those services whether you’re paying for them or not.
Pets
Pets and landlords can be a difficult match; property owners often have nightmares about ruined carpets and floors, damaged walls, and noise. But landlords can also make exceptions to their own rules if they want to, so if you have a pet and your dream apartment doesn’t allow them, it’s often worth it to make an effort to negotiate. If they resist the idea, you can offer your own concessions, including a higher rent or security deposit, or an agreement to protect floors and blunt noise with rugs.
Storage
If you're downsizing, cramming all that stuff into your apartment can be a real challenge. Even if the place includes a storage unit in the basement, you might be faced with paying for off-site storage. When negotiating the lease, see if you can get a larger or second unit thrown in at no cost (or at a discount). Even if you have to pay a little extra for it, at least you won’t have to drive across town every time you need to rotate your wardrobe.
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