Paghingi ng deposito sa paupahan

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | June 6, 2022

Dear Chief Acosta,

Plano naming mag-asawa na umupa ng sarili naming tirahan. May nakita kaming bahay at pinapaupa ito ng P7,000. Itatanong ko lamang kung tama ba na kami ay hinihingan ng five months deposit at five months advance ng may-ari ng paupahang bahay? May batas ba tungkol dito? - Monica

Monica

Dear Monica,

Ayon sa batas, hindi dapat humingi ng mahigit sa isang buwan na advance at dalawang buwan na deposit ang nagpapaupa ng bahay. Ayon sa Section 7 ng Rent Control Act of 2009:

“SEC. 7. Rent and Requirement of Bank Deposit. – Rent shall be paid in advance within the first five (5) days of every current month or the beginning of the lease agreement unless the contract of lease provides for a later date of payment. The lessor cannot demand more than one (1) month advance rent. Neither can he/she demand more than two (2) months deposit which shall be kept in a bank under the lessor’s account name during the entire duration of the lease agreement.

Any and all interest that shall accrue therein shall be returned to the lessee at the expiration of the lease contract. In the event however, that the lessee fails to settle rent, electric, telephone, water or such other utility bills or destroys any house components and accessories, the deposits and interests therein shall be forfeited in favor of the latter in the amount commensurate to the pecuniary damage done by the former.” (Binigyang-diin)

Isinasaad ng batas na ito na hindi puwedeng labis ang paghingi ng deposits at advances ng isang nagpapaupa ng bahay. Ito ay naglalayon na protektahan ang sinumang nagnanais na mangupahan ng bahay sa Pilipinas.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.