My sister signed her lease coming on two years ago. The rent didn't get increased the last go around, since the market in Austin has been dipping. Many houses in her neighborhood are listed at 300-400 dollars cheaper with essentially the same conditions. All houses in the area were constructed in the 70's and very few of them have had extensive remodels (including the one she lives in).

It's a duplex, and the other side of her house has been vacant now for over two months since the last couple moved out, and monitoring the rent it's been dropped several times.

Are the odds good that she can approach the landlord and explain the situation and get a rent reduction?