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.

All Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Best Apartments in University City

Philadelphia • 2,851 top-rated buildings

2,851

Top Buildings

96.1

Avg Score

100

A+ Buildings

80+

Min Score

Top 10 in University City

3862-68 LANCASTER AVE

6 units • Built 2000 • No violations

96.6

A+

More Top Buildings

3616 SPRING GARDEN ST

3806 SPRING GARDEN ST

3341 SPRING GARDEN ST

4 units • Built 2010

96.2

#29

3339 SPRING GARDEN ST

3337 SPRING GARDEN ST

4075 SPRING GARDEN ST

3423-27 SPRING GARDEN ST

3410 SPRING GARDEN ST

3836-50 SPRING GARDEN ST

3952-54 LANCASTER AVE

About University City

University City is a neighborhood in Philadelphia with 2,851highly-rated residential buildings. The average building score in this area is96.1 out of 100, with 100 buildings achieving A+ status.

These rankings are based on L&I violation records, 311 complaints, and building characteristics. Use StreetSmart to research any building before signing a lease.

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Last updated: 2026-01-09•Data sources•How scoring works•Renter checklist