Being born and raised in a province and venturing into the city with the hopes of a better life without the privilege of owning a home is a very big challenge especially that I didn't have any generational wealth to back me up.
In the many years that I lived in the city, I have experienced quite a few rental arrangements that I just know I'll never go back to.
Here are some of the very important (also admittedly naive) mistakes I learned from my years of renting in Cebu City:
Did not check for infestation reviews
Back during the pandemic, I had to move back from the province back to the city. I didn't have anywhere to stay upon arrival and staying in hotels were so complicated so I decided to just look for a condo to rent online. I went for a very popular high rise condo in the heart of the city. It was well-known so I figured it would be the safer bet.
Lo and behold, I stayed there and every single night tiny little cockroaches would roam around the unit. When I lifted some of the frames, there was even more of them. It was also a challenge trying to keep my dog safe from the infestation. Thankfully, I only stayed there for a few months because I went on a long-term vacation abroad.
Months later, I was checking Airbnb and other booking sites. Turns out, most of the reviews of the rental units in that building was complaints of cockroach infestations.
Tip: If you have no choice but to reserve a rental unit in Cebu online, you may look at Airbnb, Booking.Com or Agoda listings also have reviews for other units in the building (other than Google).
Did not confirm whether or not the unit will be up for sale in the coming years
What I didn't realise any sooner was that properties rented out by private individuals could choose to sell the unit while you're under contract. This is completely legal and there's nothing wrong about this. I am also fine with switching landlords if it means the original contract is honoured. However, the thing that bothered me a lot was what happens before the sale.
I've had a landlord ask many times if I could have the unit ready for viewing. I was renting a studio unit by then and I never invite visitors because there was barely enough space for my dog and I. It was uncomfortable and very unusual for me having people around let alone strangers. It also took time to get the unit ready for viewing.
Tip: If you have (and you should have) a contract, it is a very helpful addition to have a clause that specifically outlines how often you're comfortable with a unit visit. Also ask if the owner has plans of selling the unit in the near future so you can align your plans.
Not having a more specific contract
Looking back now, what I think could have helped me out a lot better was if I just took the time to redefine and specify the contract for mutual benefits. What I observed was that rental agreements here in the city are mostly really beneficial to the landlord. I thought that maybe if I had just really specified that I didn't want unit visits during my contract, how maintenance of facilities and appliances in the unit was to be carried out, rent increase, etc - I could have had less anxiety over those seemingly menial things.
Renting from known problematic landlords
In the past, I rented out a room from whom I knew had some unpleasant behaviours. I took the offer thinking that the behaviour wouldn't show through because I was after all, a paying tenant. Oh dear, no, I was wrong. Being a paying individual is not a clear enough boundary line for those who don't want to give me a good treatment.
Since then, I much prefer having a purely professional connection with a landlord and have that connection predefined by a contract rather than having to deal with a rental more personally.
Not considering the accessibility
I also once rented a room that was a little less accessible. Just getting out of the barangay alone took a 20 minute commute. I thought that was just a small price to pay for a better rent deal but it turned out to be a very big deal for me. The daily additional time just to get to the jeepney zones added up fast over the years and slowly became a major cause of stress for me.
Tip: Consider the travel or commuting options in the rental you're looking at and if that is something you're willing to go through in the long run.
Not having a realistic budget
I was very used to the idea that my rent should not take up a huge percentage of my salary. So, when I first hunted for an apartment room my goal budget could only afford me a single room with shared bathroom. I knew I could afford something better, but I kept thinking that it was impractical. I went for a decent looking room that had a very narrow staircase going up and it was pretty far from where I worked.
What I did not realise was that the distance, the traffic and the unpretty living condition slowly added up. I didn't want to stay home so I kept going out. I ended up spending more.
Looking back now, I realised that my budget was not realistic. I did not give myself the living condition I could afford just because people kept telling me not to overspend on rent. Realistically, for living conditions to be actually good, rent has to take a chunk out of someone's salary. Now my rent is higher than what I used to pay, but I am happier and I almost never find the urge to go out. It helped me a lot in saving more.
How about you? What rental mistakes did you make in the past?
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