Use calibrated questions, these are open ended questions that start with "how" or "what". This will get their thoughts off them and focus on you by problem solving the question. A way of asking this would be "how am I supposed to do..." if you have to start paying more rent then possibly "... pay that much when I earn less than what is required". Common responses to these types of questions will make the other side to raise/lower the demand to help or come to an agreement from both sides. If they only raise/lower the demand then respond with a different calibrated questions, thank them for their generous offer but then again ask them a calibrated question with another point e.g. "Sorry, I don't see how I am supposed to pay that much when the houses nearby cost less than my budget".