That’s what the landlords want you to think- people have been comfortably signing 1 year leases for the last few years of 0%-1% increases, when it’s in a landlord’s best interest for you to get nervous and sign that 2-year renewal for an excess 3%-5% percent they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to charge you. “Oh yeah next year is DEFINITELY gonna be like… 16%… i’m giving you a hell of a deal at 5%..” is what a guy who sells leases on the inside of his coat in a back alley would say.

If i’d listened tk everyone saying “ALWAYS sign the two-year” for the last 4 years I’ve been in my unit, that would have been a 5% increase, then another 5% on top of THAT- leading to spending a total of $7,320 I didnt need to spend, because the actual increase has been 0% the whole time. And now that there actually is an allowed increase of 3.25%, if I had followed that advise, my rent this year would be $2,282. Instead, it’s $2,070. That’s an extra 200 bucks my pocket every month on top of the $7k I already saved doing 1-year leases.