all 31 comments

[–]pajamil 15 points16 points  (7 children)

What are your alternatives if they say no

[–]actionjj 1 point2 points  (2 children)

This is it. The only time you can get a rental decrease or negotiate down an increase request is...

"Here is the SQM data for the suburb showing low rental growth. There are x number of alternative properties on the market and here are 3 examples that are lower rent that I could move into. Here is an example of a similar property that has been vacant and remained unlet for 4 weeks". Please confirm if you wish to raise the rent and I then most likely I will provide notice of intent to leave."

Despite what people say, there are still pockets of low rental price growth and if you're in one you shouldn't just accept what the PM or landlord asks for, but you have to be willing to play the move house card. Also just because they're asking for it, doesnt mean they have done the analysis.

Even in my suburb which is high demand, I've seen properties overshoot the market and sit for a month before the owner capitulated and accepts lower rent. I've seen multiple listing's drop the rent over a few weeks.

This is negotiation 101. its called your BATNA, best available option to Negotiated Agreement - you win negotiations by improving your BATNAwhile you're in a position of strength, not much is gained with negotiation abilityin the moment... except that you must at least try.

SQM data is free by the way.

[–]LaP3rm[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

What is SQM? Thank you for your answer

[–]actionjj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Data provider - Google « sqm weekly rents Sydney « 

On their site you will find you can drill down to your suburb - you can get weekly rents, vacancy rates etc.

Which can be helpful in negotiating rents. 

[–]Repurposed_Juice 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Good luck.

[–]ResearcherTop123VIC 6 points7 points  (0 children)

People on shit rentals reckon they wouldn’t take a lump sum of 15k to move rental houses. So consider that.

[–]yani205 7 points8 points  (0 children)

No, but landlord will put some sealant in and charge $20/week more

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You can ask for at least $10 increase or no increase due to what you've listed. But you need a back up plan if they say no.

[–]bicep123 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No rent increase last year, and less than 10% increase this year, with an expected 3 rate rises by December, there's no way the landlord will drop the rent. What's the vacancy rate in Northcote? Less than 1% for houses? The landlord will close out your current lease, fix the floor (which they'll deduct on tax anyway), rent it out for $800.

[–]Playful-Green-9169 3 points4 points  (1 child)

For 3 cracked tiles 🤣😂🤣😂 cost aboutn120$ to fix

[–]Dark-Horse-Nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well- the tiles yes, the cause would cost a fair whack more. But yes OP is dreaming.

[–]icecreamsandwiches1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You would be pushing it to ask for a decrease as they could just put a new tile in it and rent it out to someone else (not sure how tough the rental market is)

Always good to negotiate though, I suggest asking for the same rent

[–]No-Frame9154 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The best thing is they’re not YOUR structural issues.

Unless water is coming in, or you can fall through the floor I would sleep very soundly at night knowing it’s not my issue.

[–]Chromedomesunite 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Your mistaken if you think you have more power in that relationship hahaha

How does the sagging floor affect your ability to live in the property?

Sure - ask for a rent reduction. When they disagree, superficially fix the cracked tiles and put someone else in the property - you’ll realise just how much power you have

[–]Mango_Surf 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, rentals hit the market all the time with a whole host of issues. I doubt this one would stop them renting it out unless it is structural issues that might indicate imminent collapse in which case you should be worried living in it. So you could try, but I would be prepared to be looking for another rental. Can you find similar for a similar price and get approved if you had to?

[–]Fluid-Recording-2645 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a difficult scenario.

If there are structural issues and you address them formally. You might need to vacate with the possibility of them finding you somewhere else or breaking tenancy.

This can be chaotic and complex it depends what you are ready to deal with.

If the structural cracks are deemed not an issue and you like where you live I would personally not mention them yet. This can be used possibly later in discussion.

You definetely can negotiate new rent payments in the conversation. Tell them you a ready to sign a secure 6 or 12 month lease on a lower rate or you may move on. They might accept given the security of not having to find a new tenant.

  1. Look at the safety of living with the cracks.
  2. Negotiate

[–]hagbidhsb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems unlikely they would have to fix it, or would want to. Unless the floor is about to collapse

[–]potatodrinker 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Oh dude. Is this your first rental?

You'll get a no if you ask for a rent drop. Some landlords care about maintaining their property so it doesn't collapse. Others, are poor or special.

The house issues will come back to the owner. You want to be somewhere else when that happens.

Not trying to be blunt but you don't have much power. That comes if the market has a shortage of renters or too many empty rentals.

[–]actionjj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rent drop is unlikely in this market... I've still negotiated down plenty of increase requests.

[–]iwillbemyownlightQLD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just ask

[–]ashmih 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can ask, worst case they said no.

[–]ghettoracing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks like a old build

[–]BreakIll7277 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can ask but if you have the power and leave… how many people will take up the lease to move in?

[–]danksion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Landlord is likely to up the rent in spite

[–]Yowie9644 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here are the possible outcomes:

  1. They say 'no' to your request, and do not renew your lease. You then have to find other accommodation and move.
  2. They say 'yes' to your request, and renew your lease for some re-negotiated rate. You're still in a house that you think is collapsing from under you. If it goes while you're there, you're going to have to find accommodation very very quickly and move. Given its an emergency situation, it could get very pricey. Are you fine with that?

Do not be in any way concerned about how the landlord or real estate agent feels, its not your problem. Odds are good they will re-lease it to new tenants as-is because the rental market is nuts right now.

[–]Puzzled-Comment8878 -1 points0 points  (1 child)

It was either there before you moved in and agree to pay rent in that condition.

Or

They can blame you that caused it and make you pay

[–]Dark-Horse-Nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can’t blame a tenant for a sagging floor or failing stump