Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:44     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How long has it been on the market? I would be inclined to tell them you'll get back to them and look for a full price renter.


One month (there was another offer but the credit score was too low), which is surprising b/c it took me less time to find a good tenant last year. And I've already cut the price. So with this applicant's offer it'd be $200/mo lower than what last tenant paid. I guess it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But I'm wondering if it's because of the market (with government shutdown and everything)...


https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/renters-have-the-upper-hand-and-they-are-probably-keeping-it-cc2eb760?mod=Searchresults&pos=1&page=1

Renters across much of the U.S. have enjoyed easing prices and months of free rent this year. Now, this tenant-friendly environment looks poised to extend deep into next year, and perhaps beyond.

Apartment rents nationally are advancing at their slowest pace in years, thanks to the glut of new units that has taken longer than expected to absorb. More recently, job concerns among young people are posing a new threat to the rental market.

Apartments are getting leased at record levels. But that is largely because of all the supply and because building owners are offering more tenant incentives. They agreed to concessions such as months of free rent on 37% of rentals in September—a record for that month—according to Zillow.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:40     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That tells me they will be a problem tenant


No it doesn’t.
It’s a business deal, take it, leave it or renegotiate.


rental search these days is largely online where people put filters based on their budget and tend to know which areas/types of property they are priced out of. It's not that common to have people ask for discounts, because people outside of your price range simply don't contact you, too much other fish in the sea. If your property is overpriced it's rare to have a lot of people bother. But if it is underpriced, then you open yourself to the expanded market of potential renters who hope to nudge you to be within their budget that's not enough to afford a rental in your area. This has been my experience.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:34     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:I’ve had good tenants and PITA tenants. They all asked for a discount. It’s not an indicator.


I agree that among people asking for discounts there are good and bad customers. But it's not true that every tenant asks for a discount. It's actually minority, most people just shop around for price range they want and dismiss your property if it's beyond their budget. Those asking for a discount usually really want your place specifically but cannot afford it (which usually indicates that it might be lower priced than market..) or are the type of people always looking for bargains trying to shave off at least something to make it worth it for them.

People who truly cannot afford your place are simply not going to inquire, they'll go elsewhere. If you get a lot of inquiries from people who want discounts it can also mean your place is a bit lower priced for the area, so you get a lot of interest from people priced out of the area/type of property who would otherwise not even contact you.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:26     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That tells me they will be a problem tenant

Absolutely not. This was me. I'm a landlord's dream tenant. My last landlord told me that they didn't want me to move out. They called me 5 minutes after their walk-through to thank me, and mailed out my full deposit the next day with a nice note. They wrote to call them if I ever needed a place again.
My new landlord and their maintenance company were and still are the problem, because of incompetence and living abroad. The AC unit didn't get fixed all summer and now that it should be the heat, I'm using a heater just to not bother them yet again.
This was already a problem when I moved in. I got sick on very first night trying to sleep in the bedroom. I 'fixed' the problem for now for $0. The valves were turned off, so it wouldn't continue to leak water. Mold makes me sick. The landlord fired their property management, who showed me dirty unit with food still in the fridge.
We have maintenance in the building, but AC unit leaking water needs a different company to fix it. It was 'fixed' with kitchen pipes instead of original parts. They probably bought the place and didn't check.
I can always move out if it gets too much. I want to live in this building, which is the only limitation.
I asked for lower rent because:
1.) I had options, based on credit, payment history, and cash available at all times.
2.) The place was overpriced and empty for months.
3.) I was the one going to save my landlord money as I know all about the building and problems that may arise.
Every person in different. See what their story is. If I'm a good tenant, I will let you know. I told in the application that I have no problem paying for small fixes, but I want to be left alone. Last landlord e-mailed me 50 times even though they had property manager and maintenance in the building. I took it all like a champ and learning experience as it came to maintenance.
She forwarded me every e-mail from the building that I already got. I was there to get the windows changed. I let in every person wanting to see the place. I sent her pictures about of the place, so she doesn't have to come and can get the estimates to get the place ready for new tenants. Many other things I'd rather have not worried about.
After I moved out, they still emailed me as I knew their property better than the did. Asking me where the storage unit was.
I answer people and I answer fast. I wasn't going to change who I am, but it did get to be a little too much.



TLDR, you are really verbose and defensive. No need. Everyone at some point asks for discounts somewhere. When people say it's a red flag it is always a generalization because individual circumstances always differ. And when LL evaluates tenants it's not true that people asking for discounts get automatically dismissed, as you know yourself.

Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:22     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
I’ve had good tenants and PITA tenants. They all asked for a discount. It’s not an indicator.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:20     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How long has it been on the market? I would be inclined to tell them you'll get back to them and look for a full price renter.


One month (there was another offer but the credit score was too low), which is surprising b/c it took me less time to find a good tenant last year. And I've already cut the price. So with this applicant's offer it'd be $200/mo lower than what last tenant paid. I guess it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But I'm wondering if it's because of the market (with government shutdown and everything)...


I think the potential tenant is probably choosing between your place and another rental that is less expensive. It’s not a red flag for the tenant’s personality, you’re just overpriced for the current market conditions.



It's possible but not always true. Sometimes it's just the person who always wants a bargain and would not ever want to pay the price listed, some people just want to haggle or buy things only on sale even if in reality they aren't getting a deal, it's psychological. Sometimes it is indecisiveness and person wanting a sure sign that your rental is the place for them to have them pull the trigger. People ask for discounts even on things that are below market value.

Also, in general people who ask a lot of questions or for certain concessions will continue being needier than those who just make their decision after shopping around and pull the trigger. Often times people who ask a lot of questions, drag their decision end up not giving you the business.

So, yes, I'd say in general it can be a red flag that you may be dealing with a potentially problematic customer. It's true for any business, not just RE.

Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 07:29     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:That tells me they will be a problem tenant

Absolutely not. This was me. I'm a landlord's dream tenant. My last landlord told me that they didn't want me to move out. They called me 5 minutes after their walk-through to thank me, and mailed out my full deposit the next day with a nice note. They wrote to call them if I ever needed a place again.
My new landlord and their maintenance company were and still are the problem, because of incompetence and living abroad. The AC unit didn't get fixed all summer and now that it should be the heat, I'm using a heater just to not bother them yet again.
This was already a problem when I moved in. I got sick on very first night trying to sleep in the bedroom. I 'fixed' the problem for now for $0. The valves were turned off, so it wouldn't continue to leak water. Mold makes me sick. The landlord fired their property management, who showed me dirty unit with food still in the fridge.
We have maintenance in the building, but AC unit leaking water needs a different company to fix it. It was 'fixed' with kitchen pipes instead of original parts. They probably bought the place and didn't check.
I can always move out if it gets too much. I want to live in this building, which is the only limitation.
I asked for lower rent because:
1.) I had options, based on credit, payment history, and cash available at all times.
2.) The place was overpriced and empty for months.
3.) I was the one going to save my landlord money as I know all about the building and problems that may arise.
Every person in different. See what their story is. If I'm a good tenant, I will let you know. I told in the application that I have no problem paying for small fixes, but I want to be left alone. Last landlord e-mailed me 50 times even though they had property manager and maintenance in the building. I took it all like a champ and learning experience as it came to maintenance.
She forwarded me every e-mail from the building that I already got. I was there to get the windows changed. I let in every person wanting to see the place. I sent her pictures about of the place, so she doesn't have to come and can get the estimates to get the place ready for new tenants. Many other things I'd rather have not worried about.
After I moved out, they still emailed me as I knew their property better than the did. Asking me where the storage unit was.
I answer people and I answer fast. I wasn't going to change who I am, but it did get to be a little too much.

Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 22:53     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
If you are not getting a lot of offers your price is too high.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 22:51     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:I would skip them and move on to find the price you want.

From experience, people who ask for concessions right away are going to be difficult.


+1 I gave a discount to a tenant and then when they were there they kept calling me for every minor little thing and asking for it to be fixed. And they gave a sob story at the end of the lease and again asked for a price reduction. I still renewed because they kept the house clean and that was more important to me.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 22:37     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
I would skip them and move on to find the price you want.

From experience, people who ask for concessions right away are going to be difficult.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 22:18     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
It means that they are a smart tenant. Why in the world would anyone offer full price for a property that's been sitting for one month?
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 19:46     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:That tells me they will be a problem tenant


No it doesn’t.
It’s a business deal, take it, leave it or renegotiate.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 18:43     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
Anonymous wrote:We had a good tenant ask for this in exchange for signing a longer lease. They were a great candidate, income and credit-wise, so it made sense to take them up on it.

+1 I would consider this if the tenant paid their price for the first year and my price for the second year.
Anonymous
Post 11/02/2025 21:13     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
That tells me they will be a problem tenant
Anonymous
Post 11/02/2025 19:57     Subject: Landlords: What are your experiences of rental applicants asking for lower than your listed rental price?
We had a good tenant ask for this in exchange for signing a longer lease. They were a great candidate, income and credit-wise, so it made sense to take them up on it.