Philippines Expat Forum

jeffdls
Joined 2014
Posts: 2

9 years ago

Tips for moving in the philippines

9 years ago

Moving house is a headache - no matter what country your in! But when your an Expat it can be twice the fun!
Here is part 1 to helping you move house in the Philippines:

1. Location, Location.
If the price is too good to be true, ITS A FLOOD AREA or by a shanty town.

Some known flood areas: Cainta,(some areas of Pasig) Rizal, Old Manila (again Im sure others can add to this)

You have the top listed "foreigner" areas:
The Fort, Rockwell, Makati, Ortigas, Taguig,Mandaluyong and New Manila etc.. but these places can also be quite overly expensive.
Some decent places you can also try (but be selective neighborhood by neighborhood) is:

Pasig
San Juan
Paranque

Your best bet if going for condo living is to look for the ever-popular villages springing up everywhere now, with several guards on patrol and nice amenities. (Robinsons Land Corp I can recommend)
Im sure there are many who have other areas to add??

Average price ranges you should expect (varies on area):

Studio, furnished - 10,000 php monthly.
1 bed, Fully furnished - 17,000 - 25,000 php
2 bed unfurnished - 26,000 - 35,000 php

If it costs more than that you are being ripped off.

Once you have established location, now comes:

NEGOTIATING LEASE TERMS:

Rental agreements here in the Philippines are very different from Australia. When living in a condo, your electricity bill, cable, water bill will usually all be on the condo Owner's name, not yours. Most places will also charge about 2,500 to 3,300php per month for parking if you have a car.
A legit agreement should be signed and stamped by a Justice of Peace. They "witness" your signature even though the owner just takes the lease to them after you have signed it.That is normal practice here - however, don't move in unless you have that!

Don't be shy to negotiate! There are hundreds and hundreds of empty places in Manila - owners are desperate to rent out, especially to Expats. You can expect the Owner to cover the association dues, but all other costs are yours. Ive managed free parking and cable before, so try your luck!
Any extra requests you have will usually be accommodated, so ask at this point - if you want air conditioning, water heater etc.
Most will try to lock you in for a year, but I've found they usually end up taking what they can get. ;)

Just take your time, really check out the surrounding neighbourhood. You want to be sure your time spent there is comfortable. Some areas are more prone to beggar children or has surrounding shanty towns. Your best bet is to always live somewhere that has one or more guards.
That said, check their rules at the condo (guest visiting, pool hours etc) - many times it can be difficult to even be able to have a guest come over!

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Philippines Guide

The Philippines attracts the interest of expats from all over the world - truly has a lot to offer for a variety of different people. However, it's also important to understand the pitfalls that can be avoided with appropriate homework and preparation.

Philippines Forum
Join our Philippines forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Philippines.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Philippines.

Best Places to Live in Philippines

If you're thinking about living in Philippines, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Philippines in 2023.

Healthcare in Philippines

Expats in the Philippines have a lot to say about the quality of medical care, hospitals, prescription medicine availability and health insurance in the Philippines.

Cost of Living in Philippines

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Philippines.

Moving to Philippines Guide

Expats moving to the Philippines join others that have moved there for work or a lower cost of living during retirement. It's critical to understand what the realities of living there are, but those that successfully make the adjustment believe it is a good place to live.

Real Estate in Philippines

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Philippines.

Pros & Cons of Living in Philippines

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Philippines.

Retiring in Philippines

Advice for people retiring in Philippines.

10 Tips for Living in Philippines

If you've recently arrived in Philippines, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Philippines.

Additional Information:

Visit our Philippines Index for a Full List

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Philippines by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Philippines.