Renting - do you haggle?

freebo_2

I know it seems a stupid question but I've never rented before, is it the "done thing" to haggle over price when looking for a rental?

Cheers,

Freebo

Mr_Matey

Yes. Depends on the market if it's worth giving it a go. Right now haggle away as a lot of places have an oversupply of rentals.

Troubled_Joe

If you can afford to pay several months up front then you should get a hefty discount.

gingin_2

We've always haggled, even in "up" markets. We got 15% off our current property, we signed for 12 months instead of 6, paid 6 months upfront and have been here almost 5 years without a rent increase.

PasturesNew

It depends how much you want that place, what other ones you've seen.

Balance haggling against the nuisance of missing out.

BenL

I didn't haggle on the initial monthly rental but it was a good deal in my eyes and it was the 1st time I have rented.

I did haggle when my landlord wanted 15% increase in rent though (it is all inclusive - but still)

I looked around a few other places as well to make it look like I would go through with it too.

If you are going through a letting agent if you show interest in a few and start to negotiate you might get quite far and see which of the landlords will drop the most.

trouble1981

We are in the process at the moment and are haggling. You need to give something back though to have a better chance of a good deal. Either a few months upfront or offer to sign a long term deal (ie 12,18,24mths). We have got 5% off straight away without even trying on a few so far, think we may be able to get more yet. The agents will not be overly helpful though as they are paid % of the rental income so its not in their interest!

Hoploz

As a previous landlord I found it depended on which agent had the property at the time. I found when I was advertising through one of the big-boy agents they kept coming up with silly offers way below what they had valued it at. When I was with small independents they always achieved the asking price.

I know you're the other end, but just thought you might be interested

lgreen_3

hello all,
I think you are all amazing if you haggle over rent---Wow! Many cities I have lived in had such a low vacancy rate, that they never budge on the price.

I guess it is all driven by the economy and whether the landlord is an individual or a company. I think the small landlord may budge on the price but not the company owned places.

kitchen contractors

smaysey

When I was in lettings, I had a lot of people haggle over price - and I've done it myself. The agent wants to let to you so they will try and persuade the landlord to take your offer.

Your best bet is to be as flexible as possible with what they're asking for - for example, if you can move in the day after the property becomes vacant, they're far more likely to accept £50 per month off their rent than if you want to take it a month after it becomes available. Ditto furnishings - if you need three beds and it only comes with two, offer to put the third bed in in return for money off the rent.

Sometimes it doesn't work, but in my experience it does in about 75% of cases.