OLA in the Toronto Star: Is it better to rent with utilities

[Greg]

It's just like Buddy Hackett's mother stated at dinner time "You have two choices, take it or leave it" [/quote]

That's my approach.
If you can't afford my rent look at apartments you can afford and stop wasting my time.
And don't bother asking to include utilities. That's like buying a car and asking the dealer to include a bottomless tank of gas.

Negotiating rent, to me, is as ridiculous as standing at the check out line of the grocery store and trying to negotiate the price of bread.

[dazedandabused]

Negotiating rent, to me, is as ridiculous as standing at the check out line of the grocery store and trying to negotiate the price of bread.

When I got started 10 years ago, I can't recall ever being asked or negotiated on price, the odd person would ask if they could paint a room. Now it's almost every person asking for a discount, I find it annoying as hell.

PS-Greg, I have seen people fighting over the price of food in the grocery line in Mississauga, sadly more than once.

Dazed

[LandlordD]

Lots of landlords tell tenants the price is (a) inclusive or (b) lower rent + you pay utilities. Hardly negotiation as Greg seems to see it! It's not, you use one burner on the stove and the oven only on Tuesdays and you get a $7.67 reduction.

[Skitter]

I dont negotiate my rents..............they are slightly below market to begin with.

I have had a few prospective tenants ask if i would lower the rent, but i tell them no and they understand why.

I have also had a couple of tenants offer me MORE rent if i will give teh apt to them and not someone else. But I tell them "no" as well.

the price is fixed and once i have agreed to lease it to one tenant, i dont go back and ask for more money if i get offered a higher rent.

But i wont even consider buying a rental property that doesnt at least have the hydro seperately metered so it can be put in the tenant's name.