What really happened was we were kicked out of our old place with just a week notice. Anyone would really feel frustrated in this scenario right?! So we tried searching on and offline where we'd be moving in next. And while doing that, we were under the pressure of counting our funds since this would only mean new deposit and advance payments. What aggravated the situation is when our landlady refused to give back our deposit because according to her, it will serve as our last pay for the month of March. This is was not at all in the contract we both signed (as I was the named Lessee in the contract). We reviewed the contract thoroughly. And all our bp's would have gone up to the rooftop if she didn't take it back when we got to confront her again. We were then ready to file a case against her from the local government tsk tsk She was pretty smart to probably smell this was coming. But I still want to share what one of my roomies have researched if ever this happens to you:
Republic Act No. 9653 - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Rent Control Act of 2009.“SEC. 9. Grounds for Judicial Ejectment. – Ejectment shall be allowed on the following grounds: (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: Provided, however, That the lease for a definite period has expired: Provided, further, that the lessor has given the lessee the formal notice three (3) months in advance of the lessor’s intention to repossess the property and: Provided, finally, that the owner/lessor is prohibited from leasing the residential unit or allowing its use by a third party for a period of at least (1) year from the time of repossession.
For the complete info, go to:
http://www.foreclosurephilippines.com/2009/09/republic-act-ra-no-9653-rent-control-act-of-2009-full-text-copy.html
Then, I was able to talk to my lawyer friend as well and firmly said that the landlady should still follow whatever is in the contract and breaking anything on it can be brought forward to the people in authority. She added that in any conversation we will have with the landlady wherein she refuses to follow what has been agreed upon in the contract, that would be our go signal to bring this issue to the local government.
Lesson learned, the contract you are signing with your landlady/lord would be very vital in anything that could happen especially when he/she kicks you out of the property on short notice. And of course make sure, it is authenticated, notarized. I'd be singing, ♫ "Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights!" ♫
