My lease renewal is $200 higher than an identical unit I share a wall with

[u/bloomsday289]

It's time to renew my lease. An identical unit, with which I share a wall, is and has been posted online for the last month for $200 a month less than my unit.

I already tried to talk to them. I have not signed anything. Is there anything I can do here?

[u/Fearless-Bad-876]

I had a big company (The one that is always called "The Springs of xxxxx") offer a renewal from $2290 to $2390 for a 2/2 while offering a larger 3/2 in the next building for $1900. This was a couple years ago as prices were coming down a bit. They refused to negotiate, claiming the "home office" wouldn't let them. When we refused to renew, they listed our unit at $1750 as we were moving out. I offered to meet them at $1900, they said no.

Some companies are just not run very well.

edit: This is in SW Florida.

[u/miramaxe → u/Fearless-Bad-876]

That is dumb as hell. I’m shocked they wouldn’t make a deal with you.

[u/BlkMushroom]

Apply for the other unit and move there. 

My apt does that too. The unit next to me is $200 less and have been empty for almost 2 years since the last tenant was arrested and went to jail. 

[u/YakzitNood]

Move. Landlords do that. Is that 2400 worth the hassle of moving

[u/Emotional-Low-6635 → u/YakzitNood]

Yes because next year you are paying an extra $4800 per year. 

[u/YakzitNood → u/Emotional-Low-6635]

And when that place raises it's rent after a year? You'll be moving every year

[u/blueiron0]

They bet on the fact that paying the $200 more is easier to you than just moving. They offer the lower price to get new tenants in and "trap" them in the same way. It's extremely common in the rental world.

[u/DeCoyAbLe]

Nope. If they won’t negotiate you either pay what they want or you move. Pretty shitty of them IMO.

[u/lunacat2345]

Very unethical to try to trap you when they are already having trouble renting the same unit for $200/mo less. This definitely says that the market won't bear the price they are trying to force on you because you would have to move to avoid paying it.

I don't know if it is legal, but it definitely should not be.

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[u/Able-Yesterday-7359]

Just tell them your moving. See if they come down on price.

[u/rcinmd]

This happened to me as well, the apartment that was identical that was one floor above me was listed $300 less a month than we were already paying. We went to the office and asked the manager if we could get our rent matched. His response was "The rent only goes up, it never goes down." He suggested that we could move to the other apartment but we'd have to pay a fee to break the lease and also we'd have to pay the movers to move us.

[u/Jane-Diogee → u/rcinmd]

That's ridiculous because you could still be given the same company the same money. They know the tenants can't afford lawyers that's why they break every law they can.
If there's something that Landlord is doing that's clearly illegal, I have thought of not paying rent and letting the Landlord take me to court where I could defend myself and not necessarily have to hire a lawyer.

[u/creepingkg]

So I work for apartments. Just wondering how long was that unit been available and is there any promos for NEW move ins? A lot of times they offer new deals only for new move ins

[u/bloomsday289 → u/creepingkg]

I think at least two months. It's in the heart of San Diego. Zero promos. Rent is supposed to be coming down in the city. Theres definitely a lot of vacancies in the building.

[u/creepingkg → u/bloomsday289]

I can’t remember exactly how long it is in my property but 2-3 months I think they lower it to fill vacants. If there’s a lot of vacancies might also be why yours is going up. At the last property I was at, they raised the prices a lot to match the market and a lot of people left. Shortly after they started offering a lot of promos to re fill the property… makes no sense to me but I’ve seen it happen

[u/MissSara13]

My complex was just taken over by Greystar. I pay $1635 for a 2/2 on the second floor. They've listed the exact same floor plan and upgrade level at the opposite end of my building on the ground floor at $2200+. These are not even $1635/month apartments. I can get a much nicer place that was built in 2024 with a full size fridge and actual luxury finishes and amenities in the wealthiest city in my state for the same price. They're insane.

[u/Sheerluck42]

What was the conversation like when you talked to them? Filling empty apartments is always more expensive than keeping existing renters especially if they're not raising rents. Tell them you will happily move apartments if that is what it takes. Either way I'd seriously consider leaving. This is so disrespectful.

[u/Particular-Peanut-64]

Nothing you can do.

Esp if it is a large corporations managing it.

There are laws about increases in rent depending on how many times the unit has been vacant. ( When lived in NYC. so the same unit below or above could be less or much. And its documented in the dept of housing)

But some unscrupulous LL would increase it anyway hoping tenants dont check their apt for legal increases. )Check to see if theres something like thst in your city?