Want to rent cheaper apartment?

Question

My lease expires in December and I was just browsing the website for my building and I noticed a unit just about the same as mine was available. The thing is this unit is $100 less per month than mine.

My question is do you think the complex would let me sign a new lease now and take that place or am I pretty much SOL?

Answer 1

It depends on the rental market in your area. Your asking them to hold an apartment for 4 months with no rent for a guarantee that you will rent it after December. It also would depend on the length of lease you are signing. A three year lease is more attractive to a landlord than a one year lease.

If they have other apartments in the building that are vacant for 6+ months, they are more likely to lock you into this one. If their average apartment is only vacant for a couple of weeks they would not be interested in giving up the 4 months of rent between now and December.

In the end - it doesn't hurt to ask. If I was you, I would go to them and say something like this.

Hey, the economy is poor right now, and I don't think I can afford to stay in my apartment when my lease is up. I like this cheaper unit and would like to move to it once my lease expires. Or would you consider allowing me to transfer my existing lease and move into the new unit if I sign a new lease on it today?

This way in the end they didn't lose a tenant, and they still have one apartment to rent - except this time it's your unit that is vacant and you are in the cheaper unit where you want to be.  

Answer 2

.     I think the apartment owner would love to have you sign a 1 year lease on the nearby unit.  You save a little money and she gets a long term tenant.