We’re coming upon that time of year when landlords are accepting lease start dates of November 1st or the 15th. This means that twelve months from now, landlords will be in the likely position of having their new leases start on December 1st or 15th. This is quite likely you count a week of cleaning/repainting and another few weeks for the apartment sitting vacant on the market. With 75% of leases turning over between April and September of each year, winter months are often the most dreaded ones from a landlord’s perspective.
It may well be that you could gain some much-needed bargaining power by offering to sign a 16 or 18 month lease, which would ensure that (should you choose to move) the landlord will be in a better position next year to find a tenant quickly and without having to pay a broker fee. Although the rental market remains tight now, no one knows what next year will bring. Try this tactic to shave some dollars off your rent, or perhaps merely to avoid having to move in the middle of the winter months, yourself.
