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Is it reasonable to ask for less rent when going from month to month to a full year?
I am wondering if it's a reasonable and not crazy out there thing to request a lower monthly rent when going from month to month to a year lease?
I signed a 10 month lease at my current place… Hello!
I am wondering if it's a reasonable and not crazy out there thing to request a lower monthly rent when going from month to month to a year lease?
I signed a 10 month lease at my current place that expired so I decided to go month to month because my job location was potentially changing. I went from $2425/month to $2619/month.
I now think doing another 10 or 12 month lease will be fine for my job but feel like a sucker paying $200 more for the same unit that has had 0 upgrades or changes.
Now obviously "it doesn't hurt to ask" but what I'm asking is for people who have either done this or work in leasing if this is reasonable and even possible to ask for a lower rent to renew my lease. I'm hoping for $2500. Still more than what I paid before but less than the month to the month.
Is this crazy?
not crazy at all, especially in LA right now. i did this exact thing last year in ktown and got my rent dropped $150 by just saying i'd sign a 12-month if they came down. the month-to-month premium is basically them charging you for flexibility, so if you're giving that up, you have room to ask
your unit was $2425 before so asking $2500 is pretty reasonable tbh. they might counter at $2550 or something but that's still better than $2619. just be ready to actually walk if they say no, even if it's just bluffing a little. corporate landlords in places like dtla or sherman oaks are more likely to play hardball, but smaller buildings are usually flexible
It's not crazy at all, but you need to understand the leverage you have. In LA, a lot of landlords are desperate to keep good tenants right now because vacancy rates have crept up and they don't want to eat a month of lost rent finding someone new. You're paying $2619 for a unit that was $2425 before, so they already bumped you 8% just for going month-to-month, which is steep.
I'd frame it as "I want to sign a 12-month lease at $2500, or I'll go back to month-to-month and keep my options open." The key is that month-to-month is actually more valuable to them than a fixed lease in some ways, because they can raise rent or kick you out with 30 days notice if they want. But in practice, most landlords would rather lock in a reliable tenant for a year at a slight discount than risk you leaving and having to pay a broker fee and lose a month's rent. I've seen this work in buildings around Koreatown and Mid-City where management is corporate but not huge.
Just don't threaten to leave unless you actually would. If you're in a rent-controlled unit, you have even more power, but if not, you're still in a decent spot to negotiate.
I've seen this work both ways in LA. Your $2619 month-to-month rate is basically a penalty for flexibility, so asking to drop it back down when you commit to a full year is standard practice. I'd lead with the fact that you've been a reliable tenant for 10 months already, no late payments, no drama. That goodwill is worth something to a landlord who doesn't want to screen a new applicant and lose a month's rent during turnover.
One thing to watch for in your area. If you're in a building managed by a large company like Equity Residential or Greystar, they often have strict pricing algorithms and won't budge much. But a smaller owner in places like Silver Lake or Echo Park might negotiate more freely. I'd aim for $2500 and settle at $2550, which still saves you $69 a month over what you're paying now. Just know your market rent for similar units nearby so you can cite actual comps if they push back.
How can I find mobile hot dog vendors for a private event?
honestly the SGV has a ton of licensed cart operators who mostly do private stuff now. look up "hot dog cart catering San Gabriel Valley" on Yelp and you'll get a handful that are fully permitted, which matters if your venue needs a health permit on file. expect around $400 to $700 for a few hours plus a per person minimum, usually 50 or so. the ones based in Alhambra and Rosemead tend to be cheaper than Pasadena because they're not paying that rent.
fwiw the county health dept keeps a public list of permitted mobile food operators, its searchable by city on the LA County Public Health site. filter for "pushcart" or "MFF" and you'll get vendors cleared for SGV zip codes, which saves you the headache of a venue asking for paperwork later. also worth checking with the Old Town Monrovia or Alhambra farmers market folks, the carts there are usually booked solid but they know who's free and they'll pass along names. just dont wait till the last week, good ones book out 2 to 3 weeks in teh summer.
You could try hitting up the folks who set up outside Home Depot or the DMV in El Monte on weekends, a lot of those carts are owner operated and they'll do private gigs if you ask. Just walk up and grab a card, they usually have one taped to the cart.