Someone please explain this rent policy

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Submitted by NeetaT on February 27, 2009 - 8:42pm

I live in Mission Valley and my rent is $1,700.00 for a two bedroom and my lease is up in May 2009. I noticed that all the vacant apartments in the complex are up for $1,535.00. Well, I went and talked to the manager of the complex and she told me that if you already lived there, your rent would stay the same or go up depending on when your lease was up for renewal. She also told me that it was out of the question for your rent to go down. Isn't a new lease just like moving in again and shouldn't it reflect the current market? WTF!!!!!

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That really sucks. How
Submitted by jpinpb on February 27, 2009 - 8:49pm.

That really sucks. How frustrating. I went through something similar. Moving is a drag, but I managed to find a much cheaper and nicer place. Things work out.

Easy. In April, give them a
Submitted by Eugene on February 27, 2009 - 9:12pm.

Easy. In April, give them a 30 day notice and tell them that you want to lease a new apartment at the market rate.

ummm. if you continue to pay
Submitted by scaredycat on February 27, 2009 - 10:32pm.

ummm. if you continue to pay 1700, the management will be laughing at you. id be laughing at you.

i predict you can negotiate this one if you tell them you're moving.

if you're too shy to tell them their position is dumb, i might even just send them a check for the market amount, tell them that's the new deal, month to month, send youeither c ofnirmatory lease with a new market rent clause upon cashing the check or send me back my check and im out of here. id be pretty surprised if they didn't cash the new check.

Give your 30 day notice, and
Submitted by Ricechex on February 27, 2009 - 10:45pm.

Give your 30 day notice, and rent one of those vacancies for the cheaper amount. Perhaps, they would negotiate with you at that time.

I'm with the others on this
Submitted by mike92104 on February 27, 2009 - 10:53pm.

I'm with the others on this one. Tell them your lease is up, and If they don't give you the new rate, you'll move out.

Like others have said, if you
Submitted by pri_dk on February 28, 2009 - 10:25am.

Like others have said, if you are willing to "play chicken" with them and give your 30 day notice with an offer to lease at the lower rate, I think your chances are pretty good.

However it does sound like you may be negotiating with someone who thinks in terms of "principles" and who doesn't really understand basic supply/demand and perhaps otherwise lacks common sense. So the "the rent never goes down" rule may prevail in their logic, even though market forces say otherwise. It is difficult to negotiate with someone who doesn't understand their own best interest.

If you do go for it, don't flinch before the landlord does!

;-)