Reduce Your Rent By Asking Your Landlord These 8 Questions

It sure can be, and we’ll reveal which questions you should ask your landlord to make it happen.

Lower rent means more money in your pocket and less stress when it comes to paying bills. But to get lower rent, that usually means you have to move, right? Not necessarily, as you could negotiate cheaper rent with your landlord by asking the following questions:

1. I love your place, but it’s too expensive for me. Is there any way you could lower the rent?

You could start with this direct question that gets right to the point. Your landlord could say yes right off the bat if you’ve been the ideal tenant who pays on time and keeps the property in good condition.

At the very least, this question lets your landlord know that they may lose you as a tenant. If they do, they’ll be faced with having to find another tenant, interviewing them, screening them, setting up payments, hoping they’ll treat the property with respect and pay on time, and so on.

The hassle linked to rental turnover works in your favor, which is why this first question is so powerful.

2. If I sign a longer lease, can you lower my rent payment?

A longer lease means your landlord won’t have to find a new tenant anytime soon, which saves them all of the aforementioned hassles. Sure, you’ll be in a longer commitment this way, but if you love the place and seek stability, it’s a smart move.

3. If I pay the rent at an earlier date, such as before the first of the month, can you lower my rent?

Putting the rent payment in your landlord’s hands earlier on adds peace of mind. With it, they may be willing to compromise.

4. Can I pay you bi-weekly in exchange for a lower rent?

If you get paid on such a schedule, and it doesn’t interfere with your finances, such an arrangement of more frequent payments could convince your landlord to lower the rent.

5. Can I pay you several months’ rent in advance for a lower payment?

Cash is king, and if your landlord can have several months of it, they won’t have to worry about late payments. This could be a compelling reason to reduce your rent.

6. Could I work for you in some capacity in exchange for cheaper rent?

If you’re handy or the landlord needs help, they may be willing to lower your rent in exchange for some work arrangement.

7. Do you have any referral fees?

Ask the property manager this if you live in a large building. Referring new tenants could bring in extra income that can make it easier to pay your rent.

8. Could I rent out part of the property to someone else?

You could lower your out of pocket costs by putting up a spare room on Airbnb, renting out storage space on a site like StoreAtMyHouse.com, or even renting out a parking space on SpotHero.