How to Negotiate Rent

As a renter, you might have more negotiating power than you realize. And that’s true whether you’re searching for a new place or renewing your lease.

In many markets, new supply has given renters more bargaining power. But even if your area hasn’t seen a surge in new units, you still may have leverage. A single unit that's sat vacant for a month, a landlord facing a winter turnover, or a lease you've paid on time for years can open the same opportunity.

Nearly 4 in 10 rental listings on Zillow offered a concession — like a rent reduction or another type of discount or incentive — in July. Those deals aren't confined to markets with the biggest building booms.

Successfully negotiating a lower rent can also depend on factors like the condition of the rental, how long the home has been vacant, the landlord’s needs, and rent trends in your area. 

Here are tips on how to bargain for lower rent, plus a script template to help you prepare.

Prepare to show why you’re a good tenant

Landlords want good tenants who pay their rent on time, maintain the rental, alert them to issues before they become major problems, and don’t cause trouble with other renters or neighbors. If you can offer that, you’ll have more negotiating power. 

If you’ve had good experiences with previous rentals, offer references who can vouch for you. Letters from previous landlords can go a long way. Include contact information so the landlord can follow up with any questions they might have.

If you’ve never rented before, you can include references from work or school or activities like sports, clubs, or people outside your family who know you well. Include contact information so the landlord can follow up with them. Be sure to give your references a heads up that someone will be contacting them to check your references.

If you’re renewing, show your landlord how you've cared for their property. Offer a walk-through or share photos or videos of before and after your move-in date. Rather than take a chance on someone who might not be as responsible, they may be willing to work with you.

Maintain a good credit score

Having a good credit score can help, too, so make sure yours is in the best possible shape before you apply. If you know you’ll be looking in the future, take steps to improve your credit score now.

If you have a lower credit score, or haven’t built a credit history, you could arrange for someone with better credit to co-sign the lease as additional assurance to the landlord. Rent reporting can help establish or improve your credit score.

Research the market

To make the most credible case for a rent reduction or other concessions, research rent trends in your neighborhood and current rents in your present or future apartment building.

There are several ways to do this: 

Get an overview of the rental landscape 

Zillow publishes data on rental prices. Filter for your area to see the most relevant trends. If rents are declining, either month-to-month or year-to-year, it can be a sign that negotiations have a better chance of bearing fruit.

Check out comparable rental listings 

Look at listings near where you want to live or continue living. Make note of whether utilities are included, the number of bedrooms and baths, the size of the home, the condition, and amenities included in the rent so you can make direct comparisons. For instance, if you’re looking for a 1-bedroom apartment that includes parking and a gym, be sure the units you’re comparing it to line up along similar lines. Save links to these listings so you can share them with the landlord to make your case.

If you’re hoping to get lower rent for your current place, make sure the comparables are in the same neighborhood. If you’re considering a specific apartment building, check out rents for other units in that building and whether the property manager is offering concessions.

Look for rentals that have been sitting on the market 

Most Zillow rental listings include the amount of time the unit has been advertised, the number of times the listing agent has been contacted about the property, and the number of applications that have been submitted through Zillow.

If there’s not much activity around a property that’s been listed for a month or more, that could indicate an opportunity to negotiate. If you’re searching outside of Zillow, ask whether the landlord, property manager, or broker has any pending applications.

It’s also generally a good idea to know how much rent you can afford so you know how much room you have to negotiate. You can find out with Zillow’s Rent Affordability Calculator.

Offer to sign a longer lease

Signing a longer lease means the landlord can count on greater stability and won’t have to worry about potentially needing to find and vet a new tenant. 

You also could offer to adjust the lease term so that your lease ends during a time of year when it’s easier to fill an empty unit. For example, if you signed a 1-year lease on an apartment in Upstate New York in the dead of winter, you could offer to sign a renewal lease that expires in the summer — peak moving season, when it may be easier for your landlord to find a new tenant.

Offer value beyond rent 

You might be able to negotiate reduced rent or other perks in exchange for your labor and skills. Depending on the property, the landlord may appreciate help with yard work or maintenance. 

Or maybe their website could use a refresh or better photos. Ask what they need that you might be able to help with. This tactic is likely to be more appealing to small apartment buildings or single-family homes rather than larger complexes, which are usually professionally managed.

Ask for money-saving perks

Even if your landlord won’t budge on rent, you have other options for lowering your overall rental costs or getting better value. Ask them whether they’ll offer discounts or credits such as free or reduced parking, a utility credit, free wi-fi or elimination of pet fees. 

If you’re in an apartment building with amenities, consider asking your landlord to waive any amenity fees. 

Start the conversation early

Give your landlord time to consider your case and the research you’ve conducted instead of springing it on them at the last minute.

Also, consider the time of year you’ll be having the conversation. Negotiating in the winter — a slow time for moving — could give you more bargaining power than broaching the subject in the summer, when more renters are moving.

Once you’ve struck an agreement with the landlord, terms should be in writing and incorporated into the new lease. Good luck!

How to ask for lower rent

To help frame your negotiation with a current landlord or property manager, whether it’s via email or in person, here’s a script to get you started: