Request to lower the rent.

[Colleen F.]

Just had to share - the request went something like this --we have kept our dog in the yard and paid our rent on time,  we want to stay another year or two then  buy a house so we want to go month to month, and can you consider reducing the rent? So I am doing what I am supposed to do as a tenant please reduce my rent.  They are coming up on one year and said they wanted to stay long term, probably like 10 years was what was said at move in.

They like the place so that isn't the issue and I never believe move in statements like I am going to stay here for 10 years. People are gonna do what they are gonna do.  I know my answer given this particular tenant  but I am wondering what experience other people have. What kind of reduce the rent requests have you received?

[Steve Babiak]

Explain to them that with a month to month arrangement, the landlord is going to get a vacancy - very likely to be at an inopportune and inconvenient time for the landlord. That sort of risk commands an INCREASE rather than a decrease. 

And a side note. If they are truly going to qualify to get a mortgage to eventually buy, your decreasing the rent will just make it possible to save the down payment sooner, bringing on that vacancy even sooner. This benefits you in no way whatsoever unless you wanted them out; and if you wanted them out you could just go ahead with non-renewal now.