You probably know what a lease contract looks like, that thick long and expansive list of rules and regulations about the condominium unit your are renting. You might not remember the long list, but yes, it was that document you signed before living in this unit. Now, do you remember? How about the rules and regulations stated in that document? No? Well, you might want to take another look at it before your landlord sends you packing.
Be a responsible and fine condo resident by reading the lease contract and by reading the following reminders.
A lease is a legal document stating the terms between a renter and the owner. This document contains the monthly payment agreement and even the length of stay of a renter. The contract is too long because of the explanations for each to help the renter understand it easily and avoid lease violations. Since the culture of renting had upgraded to condominiums, you are sure to see signages of condo for rent in the Philippines. With this, the rules have gone stricter.
Almost every renter have experienced breaking their lease from making loud noises to paying their rent late. These may seem like small violations, but nonetheless, they are violations of the contract you have signed which is inevitable to your lease. Look at your lease again and check whether you have done any of these and might not know you are already breaking your lease contract.
1. Hiding a pet in your room.
Most condominiums do not allow pets while some allow only one condo pet per unit. Despite the allowance of one pet, tents abuse this rule and go on with more pets at home. Although this one is obvious, one case is when a friend visits you at home and he is the one who brings in a pet, so is this violating the lease? Sadly, yes. When the “No Pet” rule is enacted, it strictly means no pets allowed.
Before moving in, make sure to ask your landlord or management about the condo house rules whether condo pets are allowed or not. This way you won’t have to face the consequences of breaking your lease and breaking up with your pet.
2. Getting that home improvement project you wanted.
What seems to be a home improvement for you may be written down as damaging of property in the lease contract. If you’ve read the long list of condo house rules, you may see a part specifying that intentional or accidental damage of the property is a lease violation. In some cases, improvements or alterations are allowed for a rental condo unit provided that they pass the requirements of condo style and design. While others, prohibit changes such as hanging photos or installing new bolts.
3. It’s been weeks and you kept forgetting to throw your waste.
Part of renting a condo, even if you don’t read the lease contract, states your responsibility to keep your condo unit clean, in good condition and even proper garbage disposal. Most condominiums have found a new process of garbage collection each day going door-to-door just to collect their trash. At this added condominium feature, keeping the unit clean may just be a piece of cake. However, wastes include dirty AC filters which requires changing. Understand your condo rights and responsibilities that you have as a condo dweller so that you may not worry about violating these rules.
4. You let a friend rent your place for awhile.
Part of the culture of Filipinos is being too hospitable even letting their friends stay over their condo unit for too long.Visitations are allowed for most condo in the Philippines but most condo lease agreements denote a specified number of days for a guest to stay and a longer stay would mean a direct violation of the provision. Since you have signed the contract, you have no other way but to comply to such a regulation.
5. The parking slot is empty, I’ll use it for a while.
You might think that the parking lot is free for every tenant but since you have not read your leasing contract, you are wrong. More often than not, parking lots are a separate property available for leasing or owning. Parking on a lot that is not yours is like trespassing and may mean a violation. Consult with your condominium management to learn more about leasing parking slots. You’ll be surprised that despite this strict rule, there are numerous options allowed for tenants like you.
6. You place potted plants outside your door for a greener touch.
Although this should be allowed, most condo developers designed the hallways without any potted plants. Condo house rules would include that plants are allowed provided that they stay within the unit you own or have rented. Other than that, you are violating your condo lease.
7. Turning your unit into a commercial space.
With the rise of home-based jobs, most people prefer to stay at home and just work at home. While this is allowed, others make residential units a commercial space: setting up computers and desks for their employees. If you have this intention from the very beginning, you should discuss this with the management. Most of the time, the management would explain that tit wouldn’t be an issue for them but will be an issue regarding the condo residents beside that unit. More people coming and going in the unit may mean noise, nuisance, and higher risks of property damage.
Surprised at all these? Well, first thing’s first. These condo rules are set up to protect and manage the condominium well. Condo house rules ensure that renters would act like condo residents and take care of their unit as much as an owner would.
Next, as a tenant you have the responsibility to read your lease. It may be long and boring but this long and boring document could strangle you from getting that space. Knowledge of the lease grants you the power to various changes in the long run. If you have all the time in the world breaking your lease, then you also have enough time to read that thing called, lease. Read it now, observe the proper etiquette to avoid that silly neighbor picking at all your lease violations.
