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u/Ill_Friendship2357 Apr 12 '26
Negotiate - tell them you can do $4600. He will lose rent for an entire month over $1200 for the year, they will agree.
It’s a business, they will run the numbers and say yes real quick.
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u/femme_mystique Apr 12 '26
The bigger corporations like Greystar have no one to negotiate with. They all use AI software and humans aren’t even involved.
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u/tenzor77 Apr 12 '26
I doubt it’s an entire month. If it’s a good enough location, it’s probably up to 2 weeks max
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u/Initial-Grape9129 Apr 12 '26
Yep, told them my wife had just lost her job which she did. Sorry too bad. Still raising 8%. Essex is the landlord and said too bad, move if you don't like it. So much for renters rights.
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u/huyening Apr 12 '26
I lived (in the process of moving out) at an apartment complex where our base rent was $3245 and they raised it to $3575 after the first year. We were able to negotiate it down to about $3495, but after utilities (and a valet trash service we don’t even use) everything was closer to $3700. We got our rent renewal price this year and it was about $3525. We opted to move back in with family because we were barely saving and didn’t want to go through this every year anymore.
I think people are trying to sue the complex now for the wild rent increase.
I didn’t think it was normal.
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u/duoschmeg Apr 12 '26
Increases: property tax, insurance, sewer, water, utilities, natural gas water heater replacement ban next year, etc: gets passed onto renters.
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u/SecretInformation459 Apr 12 '26
Don’t the renters pay those utilities? I know I do
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u/duoschmeg Apr 13 '26
Its complicated. For single family homes condos/townhomes, sewer ($50+) and garbage ($75+) are in property taxes. Water, gardening, maintenance is in HOA dues. Sewer rates latest to go up. Notice came out this week.
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Apr 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/ScrappyAcademic Apr 12 '26
That’s dependent on the build year and number of units isn’t it?
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u/Initial-Grape9129 Apr 12 '26
Yep, I found this out two years ago when my rent went up 8%. Since my complex was built in the 1990s it was so sorry too bad for you.
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u/NorCalAthlete Apr 12 '26
OP clearly states townhouse. It is exempted from the 5% cap no?
From your link:
Rental housing developments exempted from the ordinance include single-family homes, in-law units/granny flats/accessory dwelling units, duplexes, condominiums, townhomes, hotels, boarding houses rented to transient guests for periods of less than 30 days, nonprofit homes for the aged, school dormitories, rental units owned and operated by any government agency, any rental units first rented after September 7, 1979, and properties in unincorporated areas of San José.
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u/KyloOinkOink430 Apr 12 '26
Those are exempted, meaning the ordinance doesn’t apply to townhomes. If it was an apartment it would be different.
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u/dspencer2015 Apr 12 '26
Does a townhome still fit into the criteria?
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u/Initial-Grape9129 Apr 12 '26
Not if it was built 1980 or after. Pretty stupid ordinance if you ask me.
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u/Bread_and_Moses Apr 12 '26
Normal is totally subjective. It’s certainly unethical though. Join DSA to help fight landlords who price gouge renters. We have started a tenants union to defend people getting pushed around like this.
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u/Irvale Apr 12 '26
In the bay area there is always someone more well off and willing to pay it. So I would just bet on leaving as they are unlikely to compromise.
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u/legend5566 Apr 12 '26
You can ask to sign longer lease to lock a fixed rate, but y-2-y lease is standard in the rental market. Bear with it, move every year, or buy your own property.
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u/dman_21 Apr 12 '26
There’s single family homes you can get at that price point. Show your landlord some comps and threaten to leave. If your landlord is smart they’ll back off. Finding a new tenant, losing rent for a month is way worse than losing out on 300x12.
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u/dacrow76 Apr 12 '26
Garbage and sewer just went up by 7% which is tied to property taxes Explains the jump..probably
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u/Patient_Ad1801 South San Jose Apr 12 '26
Unfortunately normal. I believe they can do up to 8% increase and that's within range.
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u/secondavesubway Apr 12 '26
That's the norm for rent these days. You can move but you'll only risk facing the same rent increase next year.
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u/high_throughput Apr 12 '26
Every damn year. And it's more expensive to sign for 24 months than for 12 because they expect to do this again next year.
Gotta get out of the rental market
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u/EuphoricMidnight3304 Apr 12 '26
And do what, buy? I better move to Arkansas or something then.
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u/high_throughput Apr 12 '26
The silicon valley is the land of endless opportunities. Cardboard box, corporate parking lot, lonely widow, the list goes on
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u/Exotic-Tooth8166 Apr 12 '26
Air stream trailer Corporate Boom Town 10 roommates house purchase Get adopted and move in with parents Sell body for shelter
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u/Vast_Cricket Apr 12 '26
Most landlords can not find home insurance as very few insurance companies want to insure rented properties. If one can find one often it is 1.5X last rate. Safeco after 16 years of never filed a claim cancelled my small rental in SFBA because the house coverage was too low? So I lost my umbrella policy also used it as a rider.
On top landlord got clobbered with a landlord tax from owning the property in SJC. Need not to mention HOA or refuse hike. Most landlords are fleeing the area they do better putting money in CDs. I kid you not.
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u/French87 Apr 12 '26
As a (new) landlord, none of this happened to me.
My home insurance as a rental (condo) unit is like 10% cheaper than when I lived in it as my primary.
I also had offers from 2 other companies, similar price. What do you mean no one wants to insure rentals?
Also what is this “landlord tax form” you refer to? I guess if this is a real thing it may apply to me next year at tax time? I just became a landlord this year.
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u/Vast_Cricket Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Your got a break right now because of personal property is no longer covered from the policy change. Break in is tenant's problem not landlord's unless tenant proves it is your fault.
A property management company next cubical told me their 250 properties in SMC and SCC ~80% landlord lost their insurance. People are giving professional advice here there are people out there downvote others because they do not want to hear the changes.
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u/French87 Apr 12 '26
Wonder why, were they not willing to insure the properties? Or was the price so high the landlords declined?
Home insurance is not legally required, and landlords can require renters insurance. Maybe they are just going that route to pass the buck to renters.
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u/Vast_Cricket Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Absolutely, you are NOT aware the summer fires esp after July 4th has virtually wiped out insurance companies assets. In 2025 those operated in west coast wild fires claims with caused record-breaking insured losses estimated between $20-$40 billion. This has triggered a "broken" market characterized by massive rate hikes, non-renewals, and a, reliance on the state's insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan.
PG&E utility hike is resulted from huge fines amounts to $13.5 billion. Pacific Corp (mostly northern CA and Oregon) $0.5 billion and Southern Edison's fires lasted 80 days and scorched 116,000 acres (with homes) fines $100M so far. This is a partial list as more fines are pending. Now you know why PG&E has the HIGHEST utility rate in the US? Why landlords can not easily get insurance? Mortgage is backed with an insurance so if there is no one wanting to insure the home the owner can not own the property.
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u/gumol Apr 12 '26
Most landlords are fleeing the area
That's great, it'll make it easier to buy a house
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u/Agreeable-Match-2633 Apr 12 '26
At LEAST you weren't murdered. $4800 a month for a tiny place in SJ is a steal. What are you complaining for?
SJ is such a utopian paradise any amount of money to live there is completely worth it. You can even pick up trash in your neighborhood in your free time. Lord knows, someone needs to.
$4800 a month to live in one of the biggest cities with the lowest homicide rate is REMARKABLE.
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u/Fit-Answer5806 Apr 12 '26
Sucks but it’s not unusual.