Want to pay less rent? Here’s how to negotiate a reduction with your landlord

Is your rent too high in 2025? Well, you don’t have to sit down and take it.

Rental rates are much more negotiable than most people realize—especially if you can prove that your rent is higher than similar units elsewhere and that you’re a model tenant who pays on time.

Such negotiations can be done if you are applying to rent a new apartment or simply want cheaper rent where you currently live.

Read on for what you need to know about how to ask for lower rent.

How to negotiate a rent reduction before you move in

You can negotiate the rent ahead come in?

As a potential tenant, it’s a little harder to convince a new landlord to accept a lower rent since you two have no history together.

This is where a competitive market matters: Landlords who have had trouble filling apartments will be much more open to rent negotiations than most.

If they’re desperate, they’d probably rather make a deal than watch another potential tenant look for a rental elsewhere.

Here are some ways to stand out.

• Prepare a stellar application. “The best way I’ve seen tenants negotiate their rent is to be a great applicant,” says Glenn Carter, a real estate investor at Condo.Capital. This means submitting your application quickly and including tax returns, proof of employment and references from previous landlords that say you pay rent on time. “This will show potential landlords that you are diligent and will take good care of the property,” says Carter. You can even offer to sign a longer lease, such as a two-year lease, to make the deal even more attractive.
• Show a high credit score. If possible, also bring a recent document showing your high credit score, which shows that you reliably pay your debts on time. “As a landlord, I would accept lower rent from a reliable source,” says Boston landlord Steve Silberberg. People who pay their credit card bills and make other debt payments on time are more likely to pay their rent on time.
• Collect rental statistics. Comb online listings to discover comparable property rentals in the area. Also research how long the property you’re interested in has been on the market – or similar properties in the area. When you talk to the landlord, you have a printout of comparable units that are slightly lower in rent and, if the unit has been unoccupied, you have this information on hand as well. Maybe a similar one-bedroom apartment has an amenity that this unit doesn’t, for example. Then point out how these factors make the landlord’s lease terms above a reasonable market rate.
• Suggest a real rent reduction. Make sure you have a realistic rental price ready based on your research. Don’t start the negotiation with a lowball offer, but let your first rental offer be one that your landlord can haggle with. Make your case in a non-confrontational way. Say something like, “I love this country and I’m looking for a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, my personal finance budget is X. Would you be willing to meet that in exchange for signing a longer lease?” Another option might be to ask for a free month instead of a lower rate.

How to negotiate lower rent as a current tenant

Can you negotiate the rent as the current tenant?

Yes, and you’ll actually have more leverage—that is, if you’ve paid your rent on time and otherwise proven yourself to be a good tenant.

How to ask for a rent reduction

• The right time. Start chatting soon ahead your lease renewal is due. Start by saying you’re not looking to get a new place, but want to continue renting—for the right price. Then state the facts: You like your current apartment, but you’re seeing cheaper monthly rents elsewhere.
• Show the benefits of your stay. Remind the landlord that keeping you as a tenant saves him the trouble of listing a vacancy, showing the apartment, screening applicants, and losing potential rental income while he searches for new tenants.
• Offer something in return. Ask your landlord what he wants in exchange for a lower rent—a longer lease commitment, a higher security deposit, or a month or two in advance—to make your request meet his needs.
• Show that you are a model tenant. Cap your rent reduction as a return on investment because you have an excellent record and value as a tenant. Remind your landlord that you pay your rent on time, keep your place in good condition, and help your neighbors. “If less reliable tenants miss half a month’s rent during their lease, that translates into a loss,” says Silberberg. “I recently accepted $150 less per month for a year and a half lease with a very stable tenant, rather than a one year lease with a less stable tenant.”
• Show repairs. You may also want to tactfully bring to your landlord’s attention anything in your unit that is worn or needs painting. Then suggest that the current condition of the items in question merits a proportionate reduction in the rental price. You can also offer to repair or replace these items yourself in exchange for reduced rent.
• Suggest a temporary reduction in the rental price. If you suspect your landlord won’t budge on a permanent rent reduction, consider suggesting a temporary reduction instead—say, a break for a few months during off-peak seasons when it’s more difficult. to rent places or when the rental market is slower. “I’m more open to price negotiations anytime between November and January,” says landlord Domenick Tiziano of AccidentalRental.com. “If I have a job opening, a good candidate has a very good chance of undercutting me by a few bucks.”

Even if your landlord won’t lower your rent, take comfort in the fact that it’s already cheaper to rent than to own in the top 20 single-family rental markets when you compare your monthly rent to your monthly mortgage payment and maintenance costs for a comparable beginner