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.

What is the best neighborhood in NYC?

Based on building quality scores, SoHo in Manhattan ranks #1 with an average score of 90.4, followed by DUMBO in Brooklyn (90.2) and Douglaston in Queens (89.9). These neighborhoods have the fewest violations and best-maintained buildings.

What is the worst neighborhood in NYC for renters?

Washington Heights, Inwood, and Hamilton Heights in Manhattan currently have the lowest average building scores due to higher violation rates. However, individual buildings vary significantly within any neighborhood.

How are NYC neighborhoods ranked?

NYC neighborhoods are ranked by the average building quality score of all buildings in the neighborhood. Scores are calculated from 18 data points including violations, safety issues, maintenance history, and landlord track record.

Which NYC borough has the best apartments?

Staten Island and Queens tend to have higher average building scores due to newer construction and more single-family homes. However, Manhattan's SoHo and Brooklyn's DUMBO rank among the top 3 neighborhoods citywide.