Lease deposits in the Philippines: what every student should know

Unidorms platform fee (₱1,500–₱3,500 on unidorms.ph, tiered by rent) — paid online when you reserve, covers landlord verification, secure payment, dispute resolution, and a 24-hour move-in guarantee. Some landlords offer to credit this fee toward your first month’s rent — look for the ‘1st-month credit’ badge on the listing; it’s the landlord’s choice, so ask when you inquire and confirm in your lease.

Advance rent — the first month’s rent itself, typically due on or before move-in day. One month is the standard, and for units covered by the Rent Control Act (RA 9653) a landlord may not require more than one month’s advance. Verify locally whether your unit falls under the cap.

Security deposit — usually equal to two months of rent. Held by the landlord (not the platform) and refunded at the end of your stay, minus any documented damage.

For units covered by the Rent Control Act (RA 9653), a landlord may charge at most one month’s advance and two months’ deposit — so the standard is "1 month advance + 2 months deposit" for most dorms and condos. Whether your unit is covered depends on its rent bracket, so verify locally.

Anything beyond that should come with a written explanation (e.g., a furnished premium unit). Walk away from anyone who asks for 6+ months upfront with no breakdown.

Refunds typically arrive within 30–60 days of move-out. Anything longer warrants a follow-up message in writing.

"Cash only, no bank transfer." Cash leaves no audit trail. Use GCash, Maya, or a bank transfer so you have proof.

Vague move-out conditions ("we’ll see when you leave"). Get the deduction rules in writing before you sign.

Every landlord on the platform has KYC-verified identity and proof of authority over the unit. No anonymous "DM for details" listings — every landlord is vetted before going live.

The 24-hour move-in dispute window lets you refuse the unit and get your platform fee back if the room materially differs from the listing, access is denied, or the property is fraudulent. Report it within 24 hours with a few photos — our team verifies the claim and refunds your platform fee in full for valid disputes.

The security deposit and rent are paid directly to the landlord under your lease — unidorms.ph never collects or holds either. We keep a record of the reservation, dispute deadline, and lease PDF so you have evidence if things go sideways.