Dumaguete Rental Deposits

Planning my move to Dumaguete in December. I have noticed on most online ads that landlords are asking 2 months and 1 month advance for houses on move-in, and 1 month deposit plus 1 month advance for apartments. Is this the norm? I am not a trusting guy and worry about return of a large deposit if/when we move out. Like I said in my intro post, I currently live in Thailand and the deposits have always been less than 1 month and no problems with return when leaving.

 

Laceman, we have an Estate Agent as a Member ( Or the Husband of one anyway) and one or two others than can Help, but you could do worse that talk to @DavyL200
Who is one of our longer standing Members. I am sure will give you good advice if you contact him By PM and he may even help you in your search for an Apartment. No doubt Gord will throw in a word or two if no one else does.

JP

 

If I can speak from the 'other side of the fence' - we charge 1 month deposit / 1 month advance and have generally been lucky with our tenants. However, we did have one problem family (American/Filipina) who left a badly soiled double mattress, 2 months electric bill unpaid, broken doors in kitchen. They left without seeing us, sent the keys round with a maid and then a month later complained to the Barangay Captain that we hadn't returned their deposit. If you get a family like that, 1 month may not cover it.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have some experience in the legal profession, and despite what others feel about lawyers, I have a strong sense of justice and fair play. If a 2-month deposit is part of my contract, I could not withhold payment at the end of the contract to balance everything out. Only if stated in contract that I can do that, which would be unusual.

Hawk, I can understand the other side that you mentioned. In a place where I felt the legal system was mostly impartial, I would know that I had some recourse if money was not returned. I have no confidence in the legal system being able to work for me in the P.I., nor where I currently live (Thailand). I have been lucky here and all my deposits have been returned, minus utilities. Without extenuating circumstances, I would also not allow past due payments of more than 10 days.

But if 2-months + 1-month advance is the norm, I don't have any other choice for rentals. Thanks again everyone.

 

OK, have done that. Not pay last month's rent and let them take utilities, etc. out of deposit money. Misunderstood your not paying last 2-monts before. Thanks again.