Do I have a shot at getting rent reduced?

[Giesela]

I figure they have 1600.00 extra bucks now, plus whatever they would have paid to turn the place around had I left at year 1 or year 2 on a year to year lease. So they've already profited quite nicely. They can say no and probably will and I will stay until I find a house IF I ever do. In retrospect it would have been cheaper to sign a lease and just break it. But I had no way of knowing that the housing market would be what it is.

But I figured it doesn't hurt to ask to let me stay on month to month at either regular rent or reduced extra month to month amount. I was looking for ways to craft my argument - but hey if that's too hard to understand OK.

I suppose I could sign a lease, get new carpet and then break the lease if I decide I want to move - screw the deposit - just hand them an extra 800 on top of all the extra I've already given them.
Wish I had thought of that before I was in 1600. I guess the idea of breaking a commitment never occurred to me.

[janamc]

Month to month leases charge more for rent than 12-month leases. This has been the case at every apartment I've lived in. I don't think you will convince them to give you the 12-month rental rate for your month-to-month lease. People pay a premium on rent (in your case $50 more) in exchange for the flexibility of a month-to-month lease, so you can't have it both ways.

But you should find out what comparable properties in the area charge for month-to-month leases, and if they are cheaper ask your landlord if they will match it. Also if their rent for 12-month leases has gone down since you moved there, then in theory your monthly lease rent should also go down (though still cost more than the yearly lease). Remind them that you have been a good tenant who pays rent and hasn't cause any problems. All you can really do is ask nicely and see if they are willing to negotiate. They need to know that you've looked around to see what other places are charging. Then they'll know it's possible that you might decide to leave. Even though you've decided you're not gonna move, you shouldn't tell them that because then you don't have an upper hand in negotiations. If they know you will stay no matter what, then there's no incentive for them to give you a discount.

[Giesela]

Janamc - good ideas! I had not though of comparing month to month charges and seeing if rent here had changed.

Thank you!