Negotiating rent in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

November 9, 2020 6:01 PM

My lease is up soon and my landlord just sent me the renewal paperwork. They're asking the same monthly amount as they did this past year. However, I'm fairly sure that rents for one bedroom apartments have dropped in my neighborhood (Williamsburg) due to the pandemic. How can I a) demonstrate this to my landlord and b) phrase a request for them to lower the monthly amount?

In case it matters, this is a luxury building, so I do expect the monthly amount for apartments in my building to be higher than the average for my neighborhood; I also expect that they won't change the monthly amount on the lease, but might offer me a free month or something.

Finally, last year (when I moved in) I negotiated to have the building amenity charge waived because the building was under constructions. They are now completed and sort of up and running despite the pandemic, but I'd also like to ask them to waive the charge again. Again, how do a phrase a request for this (along with the above request) in a way that makes a compelling case?

Please ELI5!!!

posted by unhappyprofessor to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

I have been thinking a lot about this myself. I've negotiated some in the land of business, but not as much in the land of personal rent, but am anticipating it when my lease comes due in Feb.

First, be at peace with yourself if you would hypothetically accept the same rent payment + facilities charge vs. the pain in the butt of moving to a new place. If it's a large place, they may not be able to move the rental agreement, so, decide if you would suck up paying the current proposal vs. moving.

Then, I would do some research to prove out each of those points:
1) rents for one bedroom have dropped in your neighborhood - find 1 or 2 examples of this via Craigslist, Zillow [PDF these examples and provide a live link] ideally for comparable "luxury" apartments; potentially find an article in your local paper talking about the rent drop apocalypse that will continue. Check your building's "availability" site and see how much they are offering to new tenants (cheaper? 1 month free?)
2) the facilities fee is unreasonable as people shouldn't use them - find an article about the government restrictions about how these are unsafe spaces and/or simply CDC/WHO guidance about how x facilities are still unsafe

Depending on how hands on you want to be, I would personally write something like the following over email:

Dear X,

I believe that equivalent luxury apartments to my unit in Williamsburg are asking for $X monthly rent [Example 1 $X, Example 2 $X]. Your own website lists many available units like mine at $X price. Local paper Z suggests steep declines of X% and projects this rental slump to continue. I believe a price closer to [$X] is a more reasonable reflection of local market conditions and takes into account my history of being a good tenant and a reliable payer of rent.

Your rental agreement also adds back in the cost of building amenities. As a reminder, my rental agreement last year waived these. I am requesting waiving this cost again as due to [local government restriction or CDC guidance], no tenants would be able to safely use these amenities.

I have been a good tenant in this building and reliable in paying rent each month. I am willing to sign an annual lease, but your current proposed rent is too high. Can you reply with a new proposal?

Thanks,
Unhappy Professor
posted by ellerhodes at 6:24 PM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]

Where I live, the facilities charge would be included in any tenant rent. Maybe just renegotiate the all-in rent based on what the all-in rent is in your area.
posted by cacao at 6:29 PM on November 9, 2020

Seconding Rock 'em Sock 'em. These are experienced landlords who have already gone through this exact same process with other tenants, and, I am willing to bet, have also made accomodations to keep them. For once, you actually have a fair bit of power as a renter. They don't want to lose you. Just be pleasant and polite and see what they'll do for you. And if they make you what seems like a good offer, you don't need to accept right away. You can just say, "Thanks—I'll get back to you shortly."
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:17 PM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

Not knowing how professionally your building is run, I do think some research would be helpful. I'd shop around as if you were moving and see what you can find in the same level of quality. You can also use tools like Rentometer.

The phrasing isn't that important as long as you avoid being obnoxious. "Thank you for the offer to renew my lease. I enjoy living here and appreciate all you do. I have noticed that comparable properties are now renting for [less / around $xxxx]. Would you consider a reduction in rent [to $yyyy]?"
posted by slidell at 10:34 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

I did this years ago for my apartment in the Lower East Side. I just called and said "we love living here, we've been great tenants, but money is tight and we need to pay slightly less. We're paying (I think $1800 for a tiny 2-bedroom?) now, and we can do ($1600 I think?). We'll sign that lease today if you're willing to." And they did! It was as simple as that. As Rock 'em Sock 'em intimated, they're business people, this isn't a thesis defense. Just hit them with your number and cross your fingers.
posted by saladin at 4:28 AM on November 10, 2020 [2 favorites]

From what I've seen in Park Slope/Downtown Brooklyn/Fort Green/Prospect Heights, luxury and boutique apartments that are pandemic-desirable (small buildings, quiet, good light, private outdoor space, good kitchens) seem to have had rent drop 12-15%, and apartments that are less desirable (big high rises, no private outdoor space, lots of amenities that are closed like lounges and gyms, big selling point was public transit access) have had rent drops 20-30%, a bunch of them with 1-2 months free on top of a rent discount.

You should definitely be able to negotiate this, just ask. When my apartment came up for renewal, my mid-sized management company called me and said they was willing to negotiate, really wanted to keep me as a tenant, the whole nine yards. I moved out for unrelated reasons, but honestly the guy sounded pretty desperate since the building was 25% vacant.
posted by A Blue Moon at 6:49 AM on November 10, 2020 [1 favorite]