Rent - is it negotiable?

[PaulSecteur]

Hi, Im going to be moving in a few months. I have rented before but never thought to negotiate the rent beforehand.

I have been keeping my eye on some properties, the ones that have been on the market for a few months usually come down by £40 - 50. I do have excellent references from previous landlords, so would it be possible to haggle some off?

 

[HLaB]

Hi, Im going to be moving in a few months. I have rented before but never thought to negotiate the rent beforehand.

I have been keeping my eye on some properties, the ones that have been on the market for a few months usually come down by £40 - 50. I do have excellent references from previous landlords, so would it be possible to haggle some off?

Supply and demand, you can haggle practically anything but you might lose out if the demand is particularly high. The last time I rented was in Dublin and demand at the time was particularly high

 

[MattHB]

You won't have much chance of rental discounts. Even if you did they'd be likely to hike it once your first 6 mth lease ended and they might hike it to compensate for the initial loss.

With more people renting at the moment than of previous years it's a landlords market.

 

[Milo]

From experience some landlords are utter utter bastards when they think they can get away with it.

 

[theclaud]

when they think they can get away with it.

In this respect their Utter Bastard Gamble usually pays off...

 

[Milo]

A landlord once tried to sting me on a deposit and lost big time.

 

[MattHB]

A landlord once tried to sting me on a deposit and lost big time.

Its unusual they lost

 

[Milo]

It was the barefaced cheek of it that struck me I suppose they factor in that many will not oppose them.

 

[theclaud]

A landlord once tried to sting me on a deposit and lost big time.

I'm extremely glad to hear it! But back to the OP- rent is unlikely to be negotiable unless he happens upon an unusually enlightened landlord or wants to rent somewhere that nobody else will consider any time soon (which is setting the bar very low indeed). There's no harm in trying, though, except in the risk of someone else taking the place at the advertised rent while you are attempting to negotiate.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I have people knocking on my door here to rent my rooms, if they want to negotiate I'll listen but TBh I don't need to. BUT the main thing is not the money, it's the person...I'd rather take less off a decent person than double off an as*H*le...who need the trouble..so for me it's more about who you are than what you can pay...jus t so long as you CAN pay

 

[dellzeqq]

Hi, Im going to be moving in a few months. I have rented before but never thought to negotiate the rent beforehand.

I have been keeping my eye on some properties, the ones that have been on the market for a few months usually come down by £40 - 50. I do have excellent references from previous landlords, so would it be possible to haggle some off?

that's a big fat yes, and you've half answered your own question. A sensible landlord will hope that the tenant treats the flat with care, and if you come across as the careful type you'll be in demand

 

[ASC1951]

From experience some landlords are utter utter bastards when they think they can get away with it.

And from experience some tenants are utter utter bastards when they think they can get away with it.

Most landlords would rather have 90% of the market rent from a reliable tenant than 110% of it from someone who doesn't pay. Of course no-one can tell if you are reliable until you have been there a while, so how about e.g. agreeing a discounted rent which is backdated after six months? All this stuff is negotiable, but make sure the final terms are properly recorded.

 

[Milo]

Not this one they were paid and the property looked after yet they still tried it on because they were greedy.

 

[ASC1951]

I don't see the point in being a greedy/utter bastard landlord. Even if it works short term - at the cost of endless hassle - it's not a sensible investment strategy. I've always found that, in most business relationships, you do best if you provide a fair product at a fair price and treat your customers with respect.

 

[addictfreak]

I have a friend who owns 30+ properties. If a potential new tenant tries to negotiate rent , he simply tells them to go elsewhere.