Pagpapawalang-bisa ng kasunduan sa upa

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | December 13, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

Kami ay nangungupahan lamang. Sa nakalulungkot na pangyayari, hindi na  matirahan ang nasabing bahay dahil sa baha na hindi na humupa o nawala kahit pa man sa paghinto ng ulan. Ano ba ang sinasabi ng batas patungkol sa upa o lease sa ganitong pagkakataon? Maaari na bang ihinto o itigil ang upa sa nasabing kadahilanan? — Jamel

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Dear Jamel, 

​Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay matatagpuan sa ating mga batas, at kaugnay na kaso. Ayon sa mga Artikulo 1654, 1655, 1660, at 1662 ng Republic Act No. 386, o mas kilala sa tawag na New Civil Code of the Philippines, nabanggit ang mga sumusunod:

“Article 1654. The lessor is obliged:

(1) To deliver the thing which is the object of the contract in such a condition as to render it fit for the use intended;

(2) 

(3) To maintain the lessee in the peaceful and adequate enjoyment of the lease for the entire duration of the contract. (1554a)

Article 1655. If the thing leased is totally destroyed by a fortuitous event, the lease is extinguished. If the destruction is partial, the lessee may choose between a proportional reduction of the rent and a rescission of the lease.

Article 1660. If a dwelling place or any other building intended for human habitation is in such a condition that its use brings imminent and serious danger to life or health, the lessee may terminate the lease at once by notifying the lessor, even if at the time the contract was perfected the former knew of the dangerous condition or waived the right to rescind the lease on account of this condition.

Article 1662. If during the lease it should become necessary to make some urgent repairs upon the thing leased, bWhen the work is of such a nature that the portion which the lessee and his family need for their dwelling becomes uninhabitable, he may rescind the contract if the main purpose of the lease is to provide a dwelling place for the lessee.” 

Hinggil sa mga nabanggit, sinasabi na maaaring tapusin sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag na rescission ang kasunduan sa upa kung ang inuupahan bilang tahanan ay hindi na maituring na habitable o matitirhan. 

Sa kasong Martin v. BS Bank Philippines, Inc. (G.R. No. 174632, 16 June 2010, sa panulat ni Kgg. na Kasamang Mahistrado Roberto Abad), sinabi rin ng Korte Suprema na:

“Here, it is undisputed that the floods of May 25 and August 13, 1997 submerged the DBS offices and its repossessed vehicles. The floods rendered the place unsuitable for its intended uses. And, while the Martins did some repairs, they did not restore the place to meet DBS’ needs. BS and the Martins the right to rescind the agreement in the event the property becomes untenantable due to natural causes, including floods, unless proper repairs and rehabilitation are carried out." 

Samakatuwid, gamit ang mga nabanggit na batas at desisyon ng Korte Suprema, kung ang iyong inuupahang bahay ay hindi na matitirhan o naging mapanganib na sa buhay o kalusugan dahil sa mga pangyayari gaya ng matinding pagbaha, maaari mo nang tapusin ang kontrata o humiling ng bawas sa upa, depende sa lawak ng pinsala.

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

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.