How do I negotiate lower rent on an apartment?

Use StreetSmart to find building violations and landlord history, then leverage that data in rent negotiations. Buildings with open violations, pest issues, or maintenance problems give you leverage to negotiate 10-20% lower rent. Our free tool shows you exactly what issues exist so you can ask for fair pricing.

Can building violations help me lower my rent?

Yes! Open violations are powerful negotiation leverage. If a building has unresolved code violations, pest complaints, or safety issues, you can use this official data to negotiate lower rent or ask for repairs before signing. Many renters save $100-500/month using this approach.

Is StreetSmart free to use?

Yes, StreetSmart is 100% free with no credit card or sign-up required. You can instantly view building violations, landlord ratings, and use our rent negotiation tools for millions of apartments across 10 major US cities.

What cities does StreetSmart cover?

StreetSmart covers 10 major US cities: New York City (787K+ buildings), Los Angeles (2.2M+ buildings), Chicago (700K+ buildings), San Francisco (200K+ buildings), San Diego (330K+ buildings), Boston (183K+ buildings), Philadelphia (547K+ buildings), Seattle (172K+ buildings), Miami (500K+ buildings), and Austin (33K+ buildings).

How can I tell if my rent is too high?

Search your building on StreetSmart to see violation history, landlord ratings, and compare to similar buildings. If your building has significant issues but charges premium rent, you have grounds to negotiate. Our tools help you make data-backed requests for fair pricing.

Back to Austin Search

Data-Driven Methodology

How Scoring Works

🤠 Austin Edition

A multi-factor analysis of building quality using 16 weighted categories customized for Austin's unique climate, culture, and tech-hub lifestyle.

4.3M+311 records

16categories

200K+buildings

The Algorithm

Weighted composite scoring

Final Score =

Σ(Category_i × Weight_i)

Σ Weights

Σ(Category_i × Weight_i) ÷ Σ Weights

+ Livability adjustment + Building fingerprint + Anti-clustering

3.0×

Code Compliance

Highest priority

2.5×

Flood Risk + 311

Flash Flood Alley

2.0×

Heat + Track Record

A/C is critical

1.5×

Crime + Maintenance

Safety & upkeep

Core Principles

Time Decay

5yr

decay window

Old resolved issues fade over time. 6mo=100%, 1yr=85%, 2yr=60%, 3yr=35%, 5yr=15%, 5yr+=3%. Open violations always count at full weight.

Open vs Closed

8×

open weight

Open violations are 5-8× more impactful than closed ones. A building that fixes issues quickly scores better than one with lingering problems.

Per-Unit Normalization

units

10 violations in a 100-unit building is better than 10 in a 5-unit building. Large buildings are judged fairly per unit.

Building Fingerprint

±0.3

unique offset

Each building gets a unique ±0.3 adjustment based on its ID hash. This ensures no two buildings have the exact same score—creating true rankings.

Score Compression

99.5

maximum

Scores above 90 are compressed (90-105 → 90-96) to create spread at the top. Top buildings differentiate naturally without artificial gaps.

Catastrophic Caps

min cap

Buildings with 50+ violations or 15+ open violations capped at 35. 30+ violations capped at 45. Terrible buildings can't hide behind averages.

Austin-Specific Factors

What makes Austin scoring unique

Flash Flood Alley

Austin is in one of the most flood-prone regions in North America. We track proximity to Onion Creek, Shoal Creek, Williamson Creek and high-risk ZIP codes. Flood risk is weighted 2.5×.

Brutal Summers

97°F average in August with 30+ days over 100°F. Unlike NYC where heat is required, Austin NEEDS A/C. We track HVAC complaints and penalize pre-1960 buildings for inadequate cooling.

Live Music Capital

6th Street, Rainey Street, Red River Cultural District—great for nightlife, challenging for sleep. Entertainment zones get noise penalties (-2 to -5 points).

Silicon Hills Tech Hub

Austin's tech scene means internet quality matters. We integrate Ookla Speedtest data (avg 332 Mbps download) and flag WFH-ready buildings. Tech hub areas get maintenance bonuses.

Note on Rent Control: Texas has a statewide ban on rent control. Unlike NYC or LA, Austin buildings don't have rent-stabilized units. However, Austin has strong tenant protections through the Texas Property Code and city ordinances for security deposits and lease terms.