Help! I Can't Pay My Rent. What Are My Rights As A Tenant?

FAQs on issues revolving around the lessor-lessee relationship amid the pandemic

- Johannes L. Chua

The impact of the pandemic can’t be underestimated in terms of the economy. Businesses are crumbling, factories are closing, restaurants and small enterprises are stopping operations. It seems everyone, except those in “high” places, is bleeding money.

Yes, business owners are affected, losing their investments by the millions. Amid the dire situation, they can sell some assets, take on low-interest loans, or scrap that vacation in the meantime.

How about their workers? How about those who live pay-day per pay-day? With the sudden closure and huge losses of businesses, these workers were caught off-guard (some were not even given a separation pay), with no income to pay for an essential need—shelter.

A lot of them are just renting rooms and are anxious of the day their lessor would demand rent payment. Social media has documented various instances when a tenant who couldn’t pay rent was driven out of a room, pushed to the streets to fend for himself. There was even a story about a mom who had just given birth. The roof and door of the house she was renting were forcibly removed by the lessor, since she was laid off work and couldn’t pay the three-month rent.

These two are among the thousands of stories that portray the troubling consequence of the pandemic. These stories have raised some questions. People are now wondering if there are provisions in our law to protect the rights of the tenant.