(Para sa 2025) RENT HIKE SA RESIDENTIAL UNITS BINABAAN

ITINAKDA ng National Human Settlements Board (NHSB) ang maximum 2.3 percent increase sa upa para sa residential units na may monthly rate na P10,000 o mas mababa, bumaba mula sa 4 percent cap noong nakaraang taon.

Sa isang news release nitong Linggo, ang maximum increase sa monthly rentals para sa subject residential units ay epektibo mula Jan. 1 hanggang Dec. 31, 2025, base sa NHSB Resolution No. 2024-001.

Inaprubahan ng NHSB, bilang nag-iisang policy-making body na responsable sa pagtatakda ng overall policy directions at program development sa iba’t ibang key shelter agencies, mula sa rekomendasyon ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), ang bagong resolution noong December 2024.

Nilagdaan ni Undersecretary Henry Yap ang resolution para sa Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), bilang kinatawan ni Secretary at NHSB Chair Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

Ang rental cap ay ipinatutupad upang maproteksiyunan ang housing tenants sa lower-income brackets at iba pang benepisyaryo mula sa sobra-sobrang rent increases.

Ang measure ay inaprubahan alinsunod sa Republic Act 9653, o ang Rent Control Act of 2009.

“The rental cap applies to residential units currently occupied by the same tenants as of 2024, who pay PHP10,000 or less per month, and who will continue to occupy or renew their lease in 2025.

Units with rents exceeding P10,000 per month are exempted from this restriction,” nakasaad sa news release.

Ang residential unit ay isang “apartment, house and/or land on which another’s dwelling is located and used for residential purposes and shall include not only buildings, part or units thereof used solely as dwelling places, boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bed spaces offered for rent by their owners, except motels, motel rooms, hotels, hotel rooms, but also those users for home industries, retail stores or other business purposes if the owner thereof and his or her family actually live therein and use it principally for dwelling purposes.”

Kapag ang unit ay naging bakante sa 2025, maaaring taasan ng lessor ang renta ng bagong tenant na lagpas sa itinakdang limit. Ang pagtaas ay pinapayagan dahil ang bagong tenant ay hindi saklaw ng nabanggit na resolution.

“However, in the case of boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bed spaces, only one rent adjustment is allowed within 2025, even if the increase limit has not been reached,” dagdag pa nito.

Samantala, ang bagong residential units na itinayo at/o pinaupahan sa 2025 ay maaaring magtakda ng sarili nilang renta.

“A new limit of 1 percent shall apply to units occupied by the same tenants as of 2025, paying P10,000 or less per month, and who will continue to occupy/renew their lease in 2026.
Residential units with rents above PHP10,000 per month in 2025 are excluded from the 2026 rental cap,” ayon pa sa news release.

Ang tenant ay hinihikayat ng humiling ng alternative dispute resolution sa kanyang landlord o lessor sa pamamagitan ng mediation/amicable settlement process ng Barangay Justice System. Maaari lamang itong idulog sa korte kapag hindi ito naresolba sa barangay.

“Eventually, if the lessor is found guilty, he could face a fine of not less than P25,000 nor more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month and one day to not more than six months or both, depending on the court’s decision,” nakasaad pa sa news release.