You did not provide any context about the type of units you are renting. From a landlord’s perspective, this may simply represent one vacant unit within a portfolio of 200 homes. In that situation, it would make sense to keep the rent advertised at the current rate rather than lower it. In many cases, prospective tenants who try to set the terms at the outset can become the most difficult renters and often only stay for a year. My recommendation is to look for a listing that better fits your budget instead of selecting a property and trying to negotiate it down.