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How to renegotiate rent when resigning a lease.

Thin Lizzy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:12:20 -0800

How does a terrible negotiator go about renegotiating lower rent in Los Angeles? I've been in my apartment for a year and during that time, the rental market in Los Angeles has softened considerably. Now my lease is up. They haven't asked me to sign a new one yet but I'd really like to renegotiate because I think I'm in a good position to do so. Here's why:

- Aforementioned soft market with nicer places lowering their asking price and a TON of "for rent" signs in the neighborhood.
- Local friends of mine have re-signed their leases with lower rents and/or "resigning bonuses" recently.
- Currently one apartment in the building is already empty. The last time there were units empty it took them 4-6 months to rent them.
- I'm a great tenant. Quiet, clean, prompt with the rent and all that stuff.

So how do I approach this? Here's the complications:

- As previously stated I'm a terrible negotiator. This is compounded by the fact that the owner/super seems like a nice guy.
- The apartment is in West Hollywood and falls under their rent-stabilization laws. I have no idea what this means for me since I signed a lease but it's been up for about a month now.
- I really don't want to move and would like to avoid that bluff if possible.
- I'm not even sure what I should ask for. -$100/month? I don't want to gouge the owner but I'm trying to look out for my own interests here too.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Where should I go to take fun pictures in LA this weekend?

melodykramer — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:20:01 -0800

I just found out that I'll be in LA from Saturday-Tuesday. I'll have Saturday and part of Sunday free, and I'd like to take some nice photographs and/or a photowalk. I've heard people don't walk in LA.....I'll be on foot, and staying in West Hollywood (I've never been to LA.) Where should I go for awesome pics, and how should I get there? I'd like to be able to take some decent LA pictures to show the people back home. Any suggestions? I'm comfy with public transportation, but don't know the proper bus lines. (And I'm not into celebrity/movie stuff at all. I couldn't even tell you what's on TV..so not really interested in the backlot tour stuff.)

Also, if you have any suggestions for good breakfast places in West Hollywood, that would be much appreciated too. Or, if you know of a Mefi meetup that happens to be taking place in West Hollywood, that would be better :P

Thank you very much.

I already know about Russian dressing

Bookhouse — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:33:44 -0800

What's good to eat at Russian-immigrant grocery stores and bakeries? My neighborhood (in West Hollywood, CA) has a very large number of Russian immigrants, and therefore a large number of Russian delis, grocery stores and bakeries. What should I be buying at them?

I'm not interested in cooking my own Russian food or what to order at sit-down restaurants. I'm more interested in unique snack foods, desserts and drinks, fresh-baked stuff, delicacies and easy-to-serve items. Specific brand names for packaged stuff would be appreciated.

Delongpre! DELONGPRE!

Bookhouse — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:43:05 -0800

In what movie (or perhaps television show) does a character repeatedly yell the name "Delongpre"? While in West Hollywood this week, every time I see the street named Delongpre, my mind coughs up the sound of a man yelling "Delongpre! DELONGPRE!" I'm thinking that it must be from a movie or television show. From the way I remember it, it sounds as if the man is being abandoned by someone named Delongpre, and is yelling after them in disbelief. Of course, it could just sound like Delongpre.

Googling has turned up characters named Delongpre in The Player and Two Moon Junction. I'm sure it isn't the latter, and am 99% sure it isn't The Player.

I'm moving into this neighborhood, and I really need to figure out where this mindworm is coming from before I go insane and just yell "Delongpre! Delongpre!" all of the time. Thanks.