You may tell the land lord that you have your own property, just want to change to rent..You can get a lower rate since you are a reliable tenant.
For me, my rented flat is not in very good condition, I asked my land lord to lower the rent, then i use my own money to renovate it. I showed him the invoice of renovation, he is so happy that i spent money on his house, he believes me is a good tenant, more chance to renew the contract at a lower price in the future.
Always show your land lord that you are a responsible tenant who taking care his house.
Try to rent a flat in which owned by a rich. My case is that, my land lord has a lot of properties, so he does not care about money so much, he cares mostly the quality of tenant. So there is less chance that he sell the flat or he may not ask much rent increase after the contract.
If your landlord has only 1 property, he will always focus on it and very sensitive to the market price..
always ask for rent increase and ask you to move out after the contract.
Go to the small property agency, you have more chance to meet the rich landlord..Because the rich do not trust in big property agency. The family of my landlord have a lot of properties for renting..the lady of the small agency represent them in dealing the price, problems of appliance, change the locks, even collecting the rent. For me, i did not see my landlord until now..he believes that lady very much..maybe he has no time to deal with such small thing for him...
You better rent and move out first..then renovate your old flat..then it is easier to sell it. For me, i just sold me flat, just 2 weeks after i moved out my old flat.