Dear Babe: Lower my Rent

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I moved into my apartment when it was hard to find a place and rents were high. Now it seems like there's a place for rent on every block. I don't really want to move, but do I have any other options for bringing down my rent?

Signed,

Rent Gouged

Dear Rent Gouged.

Yes! There is an option besides moving. You can try negotiating down your rent. Here's how: Write a nice letter to your landlord saying how much you love your current place and that you'd hate to move but with rents falling all around you, you'd feel financially irresponsible if you didn't look. Would they consider temporarily lowering your rent until the market turns around? 

Suggest a price based on the lowered rents around you. Make sure to attach copies of For Rent listings for places that are comparable to yours.

This will enable you to stay in your place even if they say no. Then you can look for a new place at your own pace. But I've tried it twice and it's worked like a charm both times.

Usually the landlord will have you sign a document saying that your rent is reduced to a certain amount and will be raised again to the original price at the discretion of the landlord. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE SIGNING A NEW YEAR LONG LEASE, unless it states that in the document you sign. Personally I would NOT sign a new year lease knowing they could hike my rent at any time. 

The only way to make your new lower rent "permanent" (as permanent as rent control will let it be) is to sign a new lease with that new price stated as your rent. 

In one building where I lived I negotiated my rent down from $1250 to $950 a month. But I knew they could hike it back up whenever they wanted. So my friend, who lived in the same building, and I swapped apartments so that we could sign new leases. 

xoxo

Babe

Nagging questions holding you back?  Babe Scanlon's got your answer.  A SF native, she's been figuring this place out far longer than she cares to admit, and now she's ready to share. Email her ar babe@sfappeal.com and let the veil of confusion lift. Please do keep in mind: Babe Scanlon is not presenting herself as an expert in anything that means you can sue her or the Appeal if you take her advice and your life tanks.  Her recommendations are just that: recommendations.