[jonpurdy]

Another data point. Tried to get a discount in our Inner Sunset 1BR that we paid $3250 for. Other units in the same building listed for the past few months for $2700 with 2 months free (effectively $2250).

Denied a decrease (citing CA Fair Housing and not giving anyone a decrease) so we paid 1 months rent to break the lease. Now living in a 2BR by the beach for the same price as before with 50% more space, W/D, garage.

Old apartment went from ~10 vacant 1BR to ~25 vacant 1BR listings during the past couple of months during our negotiation and move.

[TACIXAT]

I had a corporate landlord in Foster City and asked, they wouldn’t budge and invited me to reapply for a different apartment at a lower rate as the lease was up. I live in LA now.

[kevindeasis]

Wow!

Some places would charge you a month's rent for each month that they couldn't fill the apartment when you break lease!

[kshacker]

It all depends on supply and demand.

If you have 6-8 months left in your lease, and they do not have demand, they got you locked in so their incentive is less. They do not have demand so obviously the unit you vacate will also sit for a few weeks at least so you need to pay. That's the contract.

If you have 2 months left, they know you are high risk to move out so they will throw discounts to avoid yet another vacancy.

[kelnos]

It's possible the parent only had one month left on their lease.