Better Living Realty’s new service helps property owners increase rents responsibly while maintaining tenant relationships – no upfront costs
Connecticut landlords facing a common dilemma now have a solution that doesn’t require confronting longtime tenants about overdue rent increases. Rob Marucci, broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC, has launched a “Landlord Tune-Up Program” that positions his team as third-party intermediaries who assess properties, negotiate fair increases, and handle the uncomfortable conversations landlords often avoid.
The program emerged from a simple request. Marucci’s cousin asked for help increasing rents on five rental properties where tenants had stayed for years, paying rates well below current market values. One single-family home was renting for $1,250 monthly when comparable properties commanded $2,200 to $2,500.
He told me, ‘I don’t need you to be my property manager – I need you to help me increase the rents,’” Marucci recalls. “As a landlord myself, I understand exactly what he meant. When tenants have been with you for 10 years, you know the rent is well below market, but starting that conversation can be one of the hardest parts.”
The Third-Party Advantage
Marucci’s approach involves contacting tenants as a hired representative, scheduling property walkthroughs to conduct safety inspections and lease updates. He created a safety checklist covering smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, broken windows, missing handrails, and other code compliance items.
The walkthroughs serve dual purposes: assessing actual property conditions to determine true market value and opening conversations about rent adjustments in a professional, non-confrontational context.
For the single-family property, Marucci proposed moving from $1,250 to a market rate of $2,200. After discussion, they settled on $1,600 – a $350 monthly increase that satisfied both landlord and tenant. The tenant avoided the shock of searching for comparable rentals at double the price, while the landlord captured $4,200 in additional annual revenue.
“Both tenant and landlord were happy, because that’s a $350 a month increase, and he doesn’t have to deal with potentially getting a new tenant that you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Marucci says.
Across all five properties, the landlord gained approximately $1,500 in total monthly rent increases – $18,000 annually. Better Living Realty’s fee structure charges one month of the increased amount, making the service cost $1,500 with no upfront payment required.
Addressing Deferred Maintenance
The program includes identifying needed improvements that make rent increases more palatable. One tenant requested new kitchen flooring in exchange for accepting a $350 monthly increase. The landlord agreed, recognizing the minor capital expenditure justified the long-term revenue gain.
“It does make the increase easier for a tenant if they are getting something in return,” Marucci notes.
The approach targets a specific landlord profile: property owners with multiple rentals held for many years, where longtime tenants pay rates established 5-10 years ago. Since COVID, rents in many Connecticut markets have nearly doubled, creating substantial gaps between actual and potential rental income.
The Vacancy-Avoidance Calculation
Marucci emphasizes the program doesn’t aim for full market rates, which risk driving tenants to search for alternatives. Instead, it targets “happy medium” increases that recognize market realities while preserving tenant relationships and avoiding vacancy costs.
“We’re not trying to kick tenants out,” he explains. “It’s a responsible increase. What happens is they go look for houses, and the houses are double the price, and then they come back to you and say, okay, I’m okay with that increase.”
The program’s timing aligns with broader economic pressures. Insurance costs have roughly doubled since pre-pandemic levels. Property taxes continue rising. In Connecticut, winter plowing expenses can reach $4,000 per property for major storms, with one landlord reporting $20,000 in seasonal costs across five properties.
“Everything has gone up. Plowing has gone up in price, insurance has probably doubled,” Marucci says. “All expenses have gone up. And if you’re not increasing your rents, your bottom line is coming out of your pocket.”
For Connecticut landlords who’ve deferred difficult conversations while expenses climbed, the Landlord Tune-Up Program offers professional intervention that protects tenant relationships while addressing economic realities neither party can ignore.
About Better Living Realty LLC
Better Living Realty is a Connecticut-based real estate brokerage founded in 2010, serving buyers, sellers, landlords, and investors with a team of 30 agents. The company’s owner holds both real estate broker and contractor licenses.
Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
