WHAT HAPPENED? CHOOSE YOUR NEXT STEP
• You are about to sign or draft a lease — Check the clauses, the term and each side’s rights. Read the lease law overview.
• The lease has ended but the tenant remains — Check notices, dates and the possession route. Review the expired-lease guide.
• A deposit has not been returned — Organize payment and deduction records. Check deposit-return issues.
• A tenant has been removed without a court order — Understand the available remedies. Review the eviction issue.
Use this hub to understand landlord and tenant rights, early termination, unpaid rent, security deposits, rent increases, repairs, entry, eviction, and what happens when a lease expires under Philippine law. Start with the lease terms, then check the Civil Code, current rent-control rules, and the proper court process before taking action.
START HERE — HOW LEASES WORK
• Lease Law in the Philippines — what a lease must include, short-term vs long-term leases, and landlord and tenant rights.
ENDING A LEASE
• Can a Landlord Terminate a Lease Early? — contractual grounds, breach, notice, and ejectment.
• Can a Tenant Leave Before the Lease Ends? — early departure, continuing obligations, and landlord breach.
• Lease Expired but Tenant Refuses to Leave — demand, implied renewal, and unlawful detainer.
RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSITS
• What Happens if a Tenant Stops Paying Rent? — arrears, demand, consignation, and judicial ejectment.
• Can a Landlord Keep the Security Deposit? — unpaid rent, utilities, damage, and valid deductions.
• When Must a Security Deposit Be Returned? — return of the unused balance and documentation of deductions.
• Can a Landlord Increase Rent During the Lease? — contract terms and current rent-control rules.
USE, ENTRY, AND REPAIRS
• Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission? — peaceful enjoyment, notice, emergencies, and urgent repairs.
• Who Pays for Repairs? — necessary repairs, tenant-caused damage, and lease allocation.
EVICTION AND COURT PROCESS
• Can a Tenant Be Evicted Without a Court Order? — why self-help removal is risky and Rule 70 matters.
Core legal framework: Civil Code provisions on lease, particularly Articles 1642–1688; Republic Act No. 9653 and current DHSUD/NHSB rent-control issuances for covered residential units; and Rule 70 of the Rules of Court on forcible entry and unlawful detainer. For broader ownership issues, see the Property and Ownership hub. For breach, rescission and damages, see Obligations and Contracts.
Quick answers: See the Lease and Rental Disputes FAQ for short, cited answers to the most common questions in this hub.
A landlord cannot normally end a fixed-term lease early just because the landlord changes their mind. Early termination usually needs a contractual termination ground, a material breach by the tenant, or another legal ground. The exact answer depends on the lease wording and whether special residential rent-control rules apply. Who is ending the lease? I…