Know your rights as a lessee!

It's good to know that there is a law on Rental Reform of 2002 (RA 9161) that regulates the lessor- lessee relationship , rights and obligations.

Here are some of it's important provisions:

Section 3. Monthly Rental and Maximum Increase.
Beginning 01 January 2002 ........the monthly rentals of all residential units is all other areas not exceeding Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00) shall not be increased annually by the lessor, without prejudice to existing contracts, by more than ten (10%).

Section 5. Rental and Deposit.
Rental shall be paid in advance ....... The lessor cannot demand more than one (1) month advance rental and two (2) month's deposit.

Section 6. Assignment of Lease of Subleasing
Assignment of lease of subleasing of the whole or any portion of the residential unit, including the acceptance of boarders or bedspacers, without the written consent of the owner/lessor is prohibited.

Section 7. Grounds for Judicial Ejectment
(a) Assignment of lease or subleasing ...
(b) Arrears in payment of rent for a total of three (3) months ....
(c) Legitimate need of the owner/lessor to repossess his or her property for his or her own use or for the use of any immediate member of his or her family as a residential unit.....
(d) Need of the lessor to make necessary repairs of the leased premises ...
(e) Expiration of the period of the lease contract.

The newly signed Republic Act No. 9653, otherwise known as the Rent Control Act of 2009 supersedes the previously posted RA9161, it is retroactive January 1,2009.

For a period of one year from the effectivity of the new law, no rent increaseshall be imposed in any residential unit covered under the Act. After such period until December 31, 2013, the increase in rent should not be more than seven percent annuallyas long as the unit is occupied by the same tenant. Under the new law, owners of residential units are allowed to impose not more than one month advance rent and not more than two months deposit.

Covered under the Rent Control Act of 2009 are dwelling units in the National Capital Region NCR and highly urbanized cities whose monthly rent ranges up to P10,000; as well as units located in other areas whose rent ranges up to P5,000.

Extracted from www.op.gov.ph announcement.

[jengile]

Hi to all I hope someone can advice me on my dilemma, I reported an issue to meralco regarding stop meter, I did this when I got a billing last december 2010, it shows na ang bill namin is 7 pesos so nagulat ako as a renter, I immidiately reported this to Meralco. Confident naman ako na we did not do anything wrong kaya when it was replaced and we were sent an invitation letter for the inspection, hindi na ako nag attend. We we're renting the place for a year and a half na.
Then after a month we received a letter saying that the meter was tampered or moved, (I will put in the details later ), I remember that last time na naputulan kme ng ilaw and when the meralco guy came to reconnect the meter, sila ang nag ayos. I still have a picture na it was sealed, because when i realized na stop meter kme i took a picture before they remove the meter.

Now ang problem ko the owner of the house wants me to shoulder the amount that meralco is charging, i felt na parang unfair naman, kse we did not do anything to tamper the meter. yes we are renting for a year and a half but we do not have the capacity to move or change anything (but yes I know that we have to prove that). And yun nga ang question ko, kami ba as a renter ang dapat mag shoulder nun? The owner admitted that luma na yung metro nila.

Please advice. Thanks