Negotiating Lower Rent, Here's How; Plus Rent Costs In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Looking to save a few extra bucks this year? There’s more you can do besides bringing lunch to work, saving on gas and traveling during the off season. Add negotiating lower rent to the list, thanks to tips from ApartmentList.com, you’ll be saving your coins in no time.

And check below to see where rents are rising and falling in the Atlanta metro. It may factor in where you decide to live.

First, make sure you’re strategizing and building your case in advance. Doublecheck your lease agreement because it’s not uncommon for some agreements to state that your landlord or leasing office needs to be notified about your decision to renew 60 days before the end of the lease.
“Think like your landlord. Be your landlord.”

Rent is often raised to offset expenses or losses, says the rental company. Get creative. If there are renovations you can take on yourself, speak up. This could be a good negotiating tool to keep the rent manageable.

“Know their legal limits.”

Know the law. It’s always a good idea to equip yourself with important information that could later protect you. Read the fine print carefully and know your state and local housing laws that govern lease renewal processes. You should know just how much your landlord can legally increase your rent and how far in advance they have to notify you about it.

“Gather some intel.”

It’s probably not a bad idea to get to know your neighbors, if you haven’t already. Find out how much they’re paying for a similar unit. If you learn that they’re paying less, but you haven’t seen any renovations in yours for years, that could be something worth bringing up.

“Suggest a longer lease and offer to pay up-front.”

If you’ve fallen in love with your apartment and don’t want to let it go, at least not for a few years, speak up. Share that you’re committed to really making this your home and have no plans on leaving any time soon. Some landlords will let you sign a lower multi-year lease or lower your rate if you pay for a couple of months up-front.

One thing to keep in mind is that the rental market is seasonal. Things usually play in the tenant’s favor during the winter months. The demand for apartments is low in December and January, according to ApartmentList.com. For a full list of rent negotiating tips, visit their website.

A December 2019 report published by the company compares rent growth in Atlanta with other cities in Georgia, as well as other large metro cities across the country.

Atlanta rents have declined 0.4 percent over the past month, but have increased slightly by 1.4 percent in comparison to the same time last year, according to the report.

Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta is at $1,043 and $1,205 for a two-bedroom. Atlanta's year-over-year rent growth lags the state average of 1.8 percent, but is in line with the national average of 1.4 percent.

Throughout the year rents have risen across metro Atlanta.

Peachtree City has seen the fastest rent growth in the metro, with a year-over-year increase of 4.4 percent. The median two-bedroom there costs $1,381, while one-bedrooms go for $1,195.

Over the past month, Kennesaw has seen the biggest rent drop in the metro, with a decline of 1.2 percent. Median two-bedrooms there cost $1,428, while one-bedrooms go for $1,236.

Atlanta proper has the least expensive rents in the Atlanta metro, with a two-bedroom median of $1,205; rents fell 0.4 percent over the past month but rose 1.4 percent over the past year.

Alpharetta has the most expensive rents of the largest cities in the Atlanta metro, with a two-bedroom median of $1,470; rents went down 0.9 percent over the past month but rose 2.7 percent over the past year.

Other cities include:

• Marietta: -0.7 percent in December and +3.1 percent over the past year.
• Smyrna: -0.5 percent in December and +3 percent over the past year.
• Douglasville: -0.6 percent in December +2 percent over the past year.
• Duluth: -0.3 percent in December and +2.9 percent over the past year.
• Suwanee: Rent didn’t go up or down in December, but rose 2.9 percent over the past year.
• Stone Mountain: Rent increased by 1.3 percent in December, and over the past year rose 3.4 percent.
• Lithonia: Rent increased by 2.7 percent in December and rose 9.7 percent over the past year.
• Lawrenceville: Rent decreased by 0.4 percent in December and rose 4.2 percent over the past year.
• Decatur: Rent decreased 0.1 percent in December and rose 1.5 percent over the past year.

To find your city, view the report online.

“Atlanta is still more affordable than most large cities across the country,” says ApartmentList.com. “Renters will find more reasonable prices in Atlanta than most large cities. For example, San Francisco has a median 2BR rent of $3,101, which is more than two-and-a-half times the price in Atlanta.”

Many cities nationwide also saw increases, including Austin (+3.1 percent), Charlotte (+2.9 percent), and Dallas (+2.2 percent).