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Rent Control Law in the Philippines

July 16, 2009


Stocks, Mutual Funds, Forex, Finance Philippines
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Rent Control Law in the PhilippinesOn July 14, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the Rent Control Act of 2009 which will supposedly protect millions of Filipinos renting houses around the country.

Republic Act (RA) 9653, “An Act Establishing Reforms in the Regulation of Rent of Certain Residential Units, Providing the Mechanisms Therefore and For Other Purposes,” effectively extended the old Rent Control law (RA 9341) that expired on December 31, 2008.

Salient Provisions of the new Rent Control Act

  • The law covers all residential units in Metro Manila with a monthly rent of P1 to P10,000 and all units in urban cities with a monthly rent of P1 to P5,000.
  • Rented units which are used as motels, motel rooms, hotels and hotel rooms are not covered. Units under the rent-to-own scheme are also not covered.
  • There is a one-year moratorium on rent increases from the time the law takes effect, meaning, from now until next year, there should be no increases in the rent prices of affected units.
  • After such period until December 31, 2013, the increase in rent should not be more than 7% percent annually.
  • Boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bedspaces offered for rent to students can only increase their rents once a year.
  • Owners of residential units cannot demand more than one-month advance rent and more than two-months deposit.
  • Violators face a fine of P25,000 to P50,000, or imprisonment of one month and a day up to six months, or both.

Although the law is commendable, we believe its effectiveness may be hampered because of three things.

First, tenants must be made aware that such a law exists so that they will know their rights.

Second, tenants who may have complaints about their landlors must know the proper avenue where they can air their grievance.

Lastly, complaints must be dealt with swiftly and properly so that justice will be served for both the landlord and tenant.

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We hope the law will really benefit millions of Filipino families still renting houses.

PMT Forum: Property and Real Estate Discussion


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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000794383437 Alavazo Remolano

    nagrerent po kami for almost than 8years sa isang building dito po sa urdaneta city,ask kolang po sana kung puede po ba ung ginagawa nilang mismong sa kanila galing ang bill ng tubig at kuryente? may sarili po kaming mga contador pero sa kanila parin nanggagaling ang lahat ng bill,pag nagtanong po ako kung magkano talaga ang per kilowatt hour ang sagot lang ng manager mataas daw ang per kilowatt hour sa city,ala pa syang matinong sagot,at ngaun po december nagtaka po ako kasi gumawa sila ng  notice of disconnection of light and water supply,kahit po ala pang bill,they force me to pay 5,960 buwanan naman po ang pagbabayad ko,ang tanong kopo may karapatan po ba akong magdemand na sana galing nalang mismo sa PANELCO ang bill namin sa kuryente kasi po sila mismo ang gumagawa ng bill,dina nila pinapakita ang original na bill…may mga hidden charge kasi talaga ang mga bill ko…salamat po 

  • Bez10866

    may ginagawang construction sa inuupahan namin na diumano hinde totoong engr at wala pa permit sa brgy and city hall malakas lng ata sila ng may ari ang aking mga anak ay nagkakasakit na inabisuhan kami 2days bago nagsimula ang construction at ikinaso namin sa brgy a day pa lng nagtext ang may ari na umalis na daw kami tama po ba iyon maari po ba itext nyo ako 09474829328 kailangan ko po ng abogado pra bigyan ako ng payo. kailangan ko po ng tulong.

  • Reddragon_888

    nag rent kami ng apartment dito sa quezon city almost 19 years ngayon balak na ng may ari na ibenta ang tanong kulang po may habol paba kame kapag naibenta ito..09304503040

  • Humphreymatta

    good day. nag rerent ako ng room dito sa las piñas at three (3) stories building siya at nasa ground floor ako nakatira. ask ko lang, under sa R.A. 9653 pwede  ba mapaalis agad agad ng owner kung hindi ka papayag sa pag pataas niya ng rent ng 500-1000 every room at hindi violation iyon under the said R.A. act? ang rent ng room nya is 3,000-6,000 pesos depende sa laki ng room at ako ang pinakamataas na rent dito at ako ang may pinaka malaki na room. pwede din ba ang owner sumingil ng 15.00/kilowatts will infact may kanya kanyang kaming sub-meter at ang computation ko is 11.82/kilowatts and lumalabas sa bill and 150.00 per head sa water at gusto nya pa taasan at gawin 200.00 per head. wala kaming contract dito sa inuupahan namin at ano ang mga violation ng may ari  at saan kami pwede mag compliant with regards to this matter? please help me educate and guide me to this matter. thank you. 09155334699

  • JERRY CASTRO

    good day po, nagrerent po kami dito sa isang bldg. dito po sa sampaloc, ang problema ko ay nung unang pagtira namin dito sabi po sa amin na di sila mag iincrease pero bahala na po kami magpagawa ng ibang kukumpunihin dito sa titirhan nmin kami na rin po ang nagpakabit ng kuryente kasi po ang alam ko ban sila sa meralco. Hanggang sa maputulan na rin po ang buong bldg. ng tubig ng maynilad last 2yrs. at saka sila ng increase ng rental. Pero di po ako pumayag na magbayad ng increase my grounds po ba sila na pilitin kami mg bayad ng increase gayung ang ipinalit nilang tubig ay deepwell at natatakot po kmi sa magiging epekto po nito sa buong bldg. kasi po nakatayo po ito sa ilalim ng bldg. ito po ay 5th story bldg. at sa tabi rin po sya ng poso negro ng buong bldg. Pwede po ba kmi mapalayas ng basta basta lng ng may ari? Di po ba dapat pag nagpaupa ka ay titira ka nlng? at dapat my malinis na tubig at kuryente at dapat po maayos? Saan po ba pwede isangguni ito pong mga problema na ito. Umaasa po na matutulungan nyo po ako. maraming salamat at more power sa inyo.

    Respectfully yours,
    JERRY CASTRO

  • ROZELLE K. LOPEZ

    Sir, pls kindly advise me how to evict room tenants/boarders who resists to vacate the rooms rented to them… Our property was sold this early August and as early as the first week of May the tenants/boarders were already advised to find a new place where they can transfer. Many months have passed but they(tenants/boarders) refuse to leave the premises but instead they filed a complaint with the Baranggay for a mediation as they insist they have the right to have an extension of 3 months. Will I be correct to argue that since there is no written rental contract as all conditions were based only verbally, the treatment of their rental period is also on a monthly basis and therefore the extension of their stay will also be based on a one month period, and, is there a need for a written advise since a verbal advise was already announced to them since May? I have given them to stay only until Sept. 15, 2012 and after that, the structure will be demolished as part of the conditional sale executed with the buyer for the purpose that the land zonal valuation will be based as residential lot and not as a commercial lot as it is located in a major road here in San Juan City. Another question, Sir, will I be liable by law to anyone if I remove the roofing (yero) if they still refuse to vacate the rooms they occupy since it is considered a private property?
    Thank you Sir for giving me the opportunity to share with you my problem, and looking forward to receiving your most valued comments/advise. God Bless you always

    ROZELOPEZ.

  • KC

    hello po…magtatanong lang po ako…we currently moved in a new house…we’re renting it…for 4 thousand a month…we have three dogs…me and my bestfriend are living there…tapos…we left for a day…mga 3 days na kami dun ngstay…then a complaint came in…about the dogs poop…i rushed home to clean it up…then after few days…pinagchichismisan na kami ng katapat bahay namin na balimbing at ung ngrereklamong kapitbahay namin…we are 2 dentistry students…and we afforded that house…we are paying for the rent ‘coz we are working part time as korean tutors…they said that we made the house a “bodega”…question number 1 ko po eh…may right ba silang pakialaman ang gusto naming gawin sa bahay na nirent namin?kasi ung mga kalat po is within the gate…though other people can see it…it’s not bothering nmn…wlang mabaho…nilagay po kasi namin un doon dahil nabasa ang ilang mga gamit namin while were transferring them…then…a second complain came in…i told them na everyday we’re cleaning the dog’s place…simula ng may nagreklamo…ngayon po…after a month of staying there…may nagreklamo nanaman po…lahat na pinakialaman nila…tapos…few people said that maybe they are just making other things up para palayasin kami sa bahay…kasi…everyday and every night…never fail na naglilinis kami sa labas… though hindi nga namin natanggal ung mga dating nabasa na gamit…now we cleaned the place outside…moved the things inside the house…i don’t know kung anung next na sasabihin nila o irereklamo nila…wala naman kaming ginagawa sakanila…pero palagi po nila kaming pinaparinigan…hindi ko po alam kung naiinsewcure sila…kasi simula dun sa tatay na kumausap sakin na parang palengkero hanggang sa anak nyang lalaki na mahilig sumilip silip sa division ng bahay…pareparehas ang ugali…may right po ba kaming idefend ung about sa labas ng bahay namin?dahil nasa loob po ng gate ang mga aso at ung dating tinatawag nilang bodega?may law po bang sumusuporta doon? maraming salamat po…-KC from silang cavite…

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