Although there are ... no hard and fast rules to convince your landlord to reduce your rent, here are a few tips to help you out:
- Be nice to your Landlord / Letting Agent - yes mention the faults like the leaky shower, the broken toilet and the lumpy mattress but at the same time don"t stand there ranting and raving about how terrible the property is. Don"t forget you need to have them on your side too!
- If you were a good tenant, tell them. Have you always paid rent on time? Been a good neighbour? Been living in the property for over a year? It is in their benefit to keep on a good sitting tenant rather than bear the costs of finding a new one. However if you have been a bit lax on making the rent or been partying too hard this may reduce your chances of negotiation.
- Let them know what other properties are available in the area for your budget. Although this carries the risk of the Agent / Landlord telling you to either take their offer or 'get on yer bike!'
- Be bold. Make a lower offer and be prepared to meet halfway. So if you currently pay €1200 make an offer €950 and hopefully you can get it for €1100.
It's a renters market out there so remember 'if you don"t ask, you don't get'.
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