Are you looking for a house for rent qc or any other place in the metro? Well you’re in luck. 

We here at RealHolmes have compiled a list of useful tips to consider before the move-in period. It is our hope that after reading this guide you can feel more at ease about the preparations for your first rental home experience. 

RealHolmes' Essential Tips for Home Renters

Brush Up on your Knowledge of Rent Law in the Philippines 

This does mean you have to do a bit of reading, but the results are worth the effort. For example, the Rent Control Act of 2009 gives clear guidelines for aspects such as rental fee increases. 

Units that do not go beyond 5,000 PHP cannot be charged more than 2% rental fee increases every year. Likewise, houses up for rent between 5,000-8,999 PHP cannot have those rates increased by more than 7% every year. The law also stipulates that charging beyond the 1 month rent advance and 2 months deposit arrangement is not allowed. 

Always Be Clear on How Long You Plan to Rent 

Being able to plan your precise lease period will be a significant advantage. The longer you plan to stay, the bigger chance you can negotiate for a lower rate. Not planning will leave you at a significant disadvantage in case you decide to extend your lease. 

Even if you only sign up to stay for an initial period of several months to a year, you should make it clear at the start whether you’re making plans to stay for longer . That way, when the time comes to renew, you may be able to request for only a miniscule raise in your monthly rent. 

Consider Consulting a Local Real Estate Lawyer 

Before you sign any rental agreement Philippines paperwork, you might want to consult with a local real estate lawyer first. 

In case you’re moving in from a different part of the country, they can help clue you in on any particular local municipal laws and/or provisions that may not exist elsewhere. They may also be able to help clarify any confusing terms or statements in the contract before you sign. 

If you’re worried about lawyer fees, you can check if they’re offering discounted or even free first-time consultation. 

Track Down Properties through Trusted Sources 

There are a lot of great rental properties out there, but there are also quite a few bad actors too. 

For-rent scams with terms too good to be true are always a present risk for eager renters. 

As recent as 2021, the current Philippine Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario at the time gave some alarming statistics. He revealed that every year, over thousands of Filipinos have ended up unwittingly involved in fraudulent scams. 

Everyday risks like this mean that it’s all the more important to choose your rental property wisely. Usually via accredited companies that can verify and cross-check each property’s records. 

This is all the more reason why trustworthy real estate platforms like RealHolmes are needed. Instead of going to the trouble of spending countless hours verifying each property’s legitimacy, platforms like RealHolmes make it possible to assure renters that they aren’t being scammed. 

Certified real estate professionals can quickly present the credentials that vouch for each property’s integrity. Inquiries can quickly peruse and assess each property’s offerings via online and optional on-site means. Computations for the rental lease period and other discounts can be done within seconds. 

In other words, renters can completely skip the hassle of risky rental choices and just choose the most optimal choices for themselves. 

Carefully Document the State of the Property Before Moving In 

The reason for this is two-fold. Obviously, you want to be able to clarify that the property is safe and ready to move into. 

The second reason is for the moving out period. Assuming you get into a situation where say the landlord is disputing how much of the original property was changed, you can then explain your side carefully. 

This will help ensure that you can still get your original deposit or at least a portion of it, depending on your renovation choices.