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Rob Marucci’s “Landlord Tune-Up” service addresses decade-old rental rates as Connecticut landlords face doubled expenses since COVID
A Connecticut real estate broker has launched a service addressing a common landlord problem: rental properties with longtime tenants paying rates established years ago, while property expenses have doubled since the pandemic.
Rob Marucci, broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC, created his “Landlord Tune-Up Program” after recognizing landlords struggle with a simple task—asking tenants for rent increases.
“It’s very hard to have that conversation with tenants,” says Marucci, who owns 14 rental properties himself. “They’ve been your tenants for 10 years. You know they’re way below market value, but it’s hard to have that conversation.”
The program positions Better Living Realty as a third-party intermediary who contacts tenants, schedules property safety inspections, and negotiates rent adjustments that Marucci describes as “happy medium” increases—not full market rates, but corrections that acknowledge economic realities.
The Economics Behind Deferred Increases
The need stems from converging factors. Connecticut rents have nearly doubled in many markets since COVID. Property insurance has roughly doubled. Taxes continue climbing. Winter plowing costs can reach thousands of dollars for larger storms.
Meanwhile, landlords with stable, responsible tenants often avoid raising rents to preserve relationships—creating growing gaps between actual rents and market rates as expenses rise.
Marucci’s cousin exemplified the problem. Five properties, all with tenants paying below-market rates. One single-family home rented for $1,250 monthly when comparable properties commanded $2,200 to $2,500. After nearly a decade of static rent, the landlord needed increases but didn’t want to risk losing quality tenants.
Better Living Realty’s approach involved contacting tenants as hired representatives, citing safety inspections and lease updates. During property walkthroughs, Marucci assessed actual conditions, identified needed repairs, and opened conversations about rent adjustments.
For the single-family property, market rate would justify jumping to $2,200. Instead, Marucci negotiated $1,600—a $350 monthly increase that added $4,200 in annual revenue while remaining well below what tenants would pay elsewhere.
“The tenant was very happy. The owner was very happy,” Marucci says. “He doesn’t have to deal with potentially getting a new tenant that you don’t know what you’re going to get.”
Across five properties, the landlord gained approximately $1,500 in total monthly increases—$18,000 annually. Better Living Realty charges one month of the increase amount, making the service fee $1,500 with no upfront cost.
Sweetening the Adjustment
The program includes identifying improvements that make increases more acceptable. When one tenant requested new kitchen flooring, the landlord agreed, recognizing the minor expense justified long-term revenue gains.
“It does make the increase easier for a tenant if they are getting something in return,” Marucci notes.
Marucci emphasizes the program doesn’t pursue full market rates, which might prompt tenants to search for alternatives. When tenants do explore options, they typically return accepting proposed increases after discovering market realities.
“We’re not trying to kick tenants out,” he explains. “It’s a responsible increase. They go look for houses, the houses are double the price, and then they come back and say, okay, I’m okay with that increase.”
Target Market and Timing
The program targets landlords with multiple properties held for extended periods, where longtime tenants pay rates from 5-10 years ago. The service is available statewide in Connecticut through Better Living Realty’s 30 agents.
Marucci reports unexpected tenant reactions during initial rollout. Rather than resistance, many tenants expressed relief that increases were finally being addressed professionally.
“Surprisingly, they went really well and the tenants expected this,” Marucci says. “It’s almost like they’re like, ‘Why wasn’t this done earlier?'”
The program launches as Connecticut landlords face compounding expense pressures with limited revenue adjustment. While vacancy rates remain low and quality tenants scarce, economic sustainability requires correcting decade-old rental rates that no longer reflect operating costs.
For landlords who’ve deferred difficult conversations while watching expenses climb, Marucci’s third-party approach offers a path to necessary adjustments without risking tenant relationships or triggering vacancies in a tight rental market.
About Rob Marucci
Rob Marucci is founder and broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC in Connecticut. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and owns 14 rental properties in addition to operating the 30-agent brokerage.
