How to Negotiate Better Rent for Your Student Rental  

Many students from all over the world decide to visit abroad for higher studies and they need to make several arrangements for this purpose. One of the major arrangements is definitely accommodation for their stay in their host cities. 

Different types of accommodations can be rented by students and student rentals are becoming widely popular today. Like all other types, price is the major issue in the case of rentals. You have the option to negotiate the rent while choosing a rental. Here, you will read how to negotiate better rent for your rental as a student. 

Introduction: Benefits of Negotiating Rent 

First of all, it is good for you to know the benefits of negotiating rent, which will motivate you at the time of selection and negotiation. 

• You Can Get Accommodation Within Your Budget 

If the student rental that you want to rent is going out of your budget, then negotiating can help you find it within your budget. 

• You Get Accommodation at the Right Price 

Some landlords overprice the rentals. But, if you negotiate, you can get a rental at the right price. 

Assessing the Current Rental Market 

Now, let’s understand how to negotiate rent. The first thing you need to know for this purpose is to assess the current rental market. By assessing, you will be able to understand what the right rent of a rental should be. It is necessary for you to understand that if you negotiate only through guesses, you may fail to get a better rent. If you negotiate wrongly, your negotiation may be declined which will waste your time. Besides, in that case, you cannot stick on your stand after the landlord tries to convince you that he/she is imparting the right rent. 

Tips for Negotiating Rent with Landlords  

• Be Authentic 

Authenticity is necessary for negotiation without a second thought. If you negotiate with an authentic rent then only you can stick to your stand and then only, your negotiation will be considered reasonable. And, for this, you need to research the market rates. 

• Highlight Your Reliability 

You need to highlight your reliability in order to do the right negotiation. For this, you need to get references, which can be from your previous landlords, employers, professors, or other students. Moreover, you can also get references from some authentic websites in order to get a rental at the right price. 

• Try to Negotiate in the Off-Peak Season 

It has been often observed that landlords remain open for negotiation in the off-peak seasons such as late fall or winter. You can try to negotiate during that season. 

• Leverage: Highlight Being a Student 

Some landlords remain ready to negotiate if you are a student. So, don’t forget to highlight being a student if you are going to rent a rental which is available for everyone. 

• Present a Compelling Offer 

You can offer something in return, such as paying multiple months upfront, agreeing to a longer lease term, or committing to specific property maintenance tasks. All this can impress your landlord and he/she may agree to provide you rental at the negotiated prices. 

Finding Compromise on Lease Terms 

If the landlord is not ready to reduce the price, you can consider asking for alternative concessions. For instance, you can request your landlord to include utilities, internet, and/or parking in the rent, which can save some of your money. Besides, you can also propose a rent-free period or discounted rates for the first month. You can also ask for upgrades or repairs to the property before you move in. 

Conclusion: Landing a Budget-Friendly Rental 

If you are going to book a rental as a student, then it will be a good idea to do some negotiation. It may probably help you find a house abroad at reduced rates. For this, you need to research the market in the first place so that you can suggest the right price to your landlord. Besides, you should highlight your reliability and the student status. Moreover, you can try to negotiate during the off-season when landlords are often open to negotiate. You can also provide compelling offers such as multiple upfront payments, agreeing to longer lease terms, and accomplishing specific property maintenance tasks. If your landlord is still not ready to negotiate, you can ask for alternative concessions such as including utilities, internet, and parking in the rent and a rent-free period or discounted rates for the first month. It is hoped that all this will help you in finding a budget-friendly rental overseas as a student.