# Objections to rent-reply.md
Decider: Harbor Row Apartments (the landlord)

## 1. The comparable is an asking price, and "similar" is not shown
- Fact: "A similar one-bedroom two streets over is listed at $1,450." (rent-notes.txt)
- Decider's question: A listing is what someone hopes to get, not what anyone pays. What size, condition, amenities, and lease terms does it have, and has it rented? Why does one unverified listing set our price? Also, the 18-month offer of $1,450 equals that listing exactly, and the 12-month offer of $1,425 is below it. If the unit is comparable, why would we accept less than the market on a 12-month term?
- What would settle it: A link or screenshot of the listing, with square footage, floor, amenities, and the date posted. Evidence that comparable units have actually leased at that figure.

## 2. The vacancy claim rests on signs the tenant saw
- Fact: "Two units in my building have been empty since August (I see the signs)." (rent-notes.txt)
- Decider's question: Signs tell you a unit is advertised, not that it has been empty since August. Is the tenant certain of the dates? Are the units being renovated, held for a purpose, or already leased? Why would two vacancies in one building show that this unit is overpriced? The reply states it as fact: "Two units in my building have been vacant since August."
- What would settle it: Dates the signs went up, the unit numbers, and whether they match the tenant's unit type and condition. Without that, the claim should be softened to what the tenant observed.

## 3. The dishwasher complaint has no dates or copies, and it is a separate matter
- Fact: "The dishwasher has been broken since June. I reported it in writing twice." (rent-notes.txt)
- Decider's question: On what dates, to whom, and by what means were the two reports sent? We have no record of them in this exchange. Why is a maintenance request tied to a rent negotiation? The reply adds "it has not been repaired", which the notes do not say in those words. Is it still broken today? Our October 5 letter says nothing about repairs, so why should repair be a condition of renewal?
- What would settle it: Copies of both written reports with dates, and confirmation that the dishwasher is still broken. A separate maintenance request that is not bundled into the price ask.

## 4. "No vacancy or turnover costs" is asserted with no numbers
- Fact: "Either option gives you a reliable tenant and no vacancy or turnover costs." (rent-reply.md)
- Decider's question: How large are those costs? If they are small, a 10.4% increase foregone saves us nothing. Our letter says "Please reply by November 1" and offers a 12-month renewal at $1,540. Your counter gives up $115 a month on that term. Why is that cheaper than turnover? The notes say nothing about the cost of turnover.
- What would settle it: A figure for turnover and vacancy cost, or a plain acknowledgment that the tenant does not have one. Show the annual difference: $115 x 12 = $1,380 less rent on option 1.

## 5. The reply gives no reason the increase is unreasonable, and no leverage
- Fact: "Your lease ends December 31, 2026. To renew for 12 months, the new rent will be $1,540 a month, up from $1,395." (rent-letter.txt)
- Decider's question: The tenant says "I would like to renew" and "I am happy to sign promptly." Nothing in the notes says the tenant will leave if refused. What happens if we say no? The counter of $1,425 is $30 over the current $1,395, but the reply never says what share of the increase is acceptable or why. Why $1,425 and not $1,395?
- What would settle it: A stated basis for $1,425 (for example, a percentage cap, or a market figure) and a clear statement of the tenant's alternatives.

## 6. Tenure and payment history are the tenant's own statement
- Fact: "I have lived here 4 years, never late once." (rent-notes.txt)
- Decider's question: The reply says "I have lived here for 4 years and have never paid late." We keep payment records. Is that accurate? Even if so, a good payment record is what we expect of every tenant, and it is not a reason to lower the rent. Also, the draft contains placeholders, "[Unit number]" and "[Your name]", so it cannot be matched to a lease as written.
- What would settle it: Our own ledger confirming it, and a completed unit number and name. The tenant should state what this history is worth in dollars, or drop it as an argument.

## Most likely to sink the request
1. The comparable is an asking price, and "similar" is not shown: the only market evidence is one unverified listing, and the offers sit at or below it, so we can dismiss the whole reply by rejecting that comparison.