Without wider comment, while you wrote ‘in theory’ do you have any evidence any renter has been successful in negotiating much if anything with an agent or landlord? The best outcome I am aware of was linked in one of my previous posts. What we usually see are renters afraid to report or try negotiating anything for fear of becoming homeless.
Following on there is a topic from 2021 related to agents requiring rent be paid through an extra cost provider adding dollars to the monthly payment for the privilege. There is a similar topic from 2018.
A conclusion everyone may not agree with is that worries raised seem more common than theoretical.
