Asking for rent decrease

When's your lease up? I'd wait until then to worry about it. Since landlords in a rising market can't raise the rent during the term, not likely to agree to lower it during the term.

wax - Are there any apartments like yours in the building that are currently up for rent at a lower price? I know someone who had a similar experience to yours when negotiating her new rent. She told the LL she'd move across the hall into the other apartment at the lower rent! Tactic worked.

@NWT: Sure they can, but as you said, it make more sense when renewal comes up.

Wax, I have successfully negotiated my rent down twice. Just realize that if they don't budge your only option is to move or pay it. However, a year ago the rental market, frankly, sucked. Now it is on the way up, so you have slightly less leverage than you previously did, no idea why your neighbor's rent is higher.

My lease expired in July, but I never got a renewal. The apt that I mentioned in my original post was just rented out this month, so I think that would be the going rent for this line.

If you are in a rental building your only hand is to show your landlord comps in other buildings and say you would like to stay, but you will move unless they lower your rent to $x. The comps make the threat realistic and make the landlord take your offer seriously.

If you are in a condo/coop then using the apartment across the hall would also work.

To negotiate effectivly you need to be willing to move. Your landlord isn't going to give you a break if they think you will stay anyway.

You are in a month-to-month lease situation right now, with an ability to get out any time with 30 days notice. I suggest you also consider using this opportunity to move yourself off the July rental cycle because it is the worst time to be renting.