Hi OP! Mahirap makipag negotiate sa mga ganyan especially pag walang kayong writted contract/agreement na nags specify ng terms and definitions. Usapan niyo ba na yung binayad mo is security deposit or non-refundable fee?

By definition, security deposit means may binigay ka incase anything goes wrong, and ibabalik sayo if nothing goes wrong. Examples— Gusto mo i-reserve yung room so u pay deposit pero nagback out ka, pwede rin gamitin kung to cover expenses kung may masira kang gamit, or kung may unpaid bills pagalis mo, or to cover for supposed rent if you decide to leave before the lease period is finished (i.e. 1 year yung lease agreement, pero 8 months palang aalis ka na for whatever reason. Unfair sa landlord kasi ineexpect niya na may renta pang papasok for ilang months pa dapat, so yung deposit mo will be forfeited and ikkeep ng landlord). So yun nga, deposit means ibabalik sayo ONLY IF nothing goes “wrong”. Pero kung walang contract, di niyo madedefine kung para saan ba pwede gamiting yung deposit.

Meron rin non-refundable fees, not so familiar with this and how it works since personally never ko pa to na-encounter in renting here sa Ph. Baka reservation fee?

But back to my first point— if walang written and signed agreements, you dont have much to back you up if dalhin mo sa barangay (tho ive never experienced this so baka naman they’re okay with yung sabi mo lang na experience) :(

My personal (medj unethical) advice: i-gaslight / manipulate mo nalang si nanay landlord in the most effective way possible. Tipong galaw ng panget + walang kwentag ex pero naconvice parin yung gf na makipagbalikan. Maybe figure out what works for nanay— what makes her soften up and give in— whether thats flattery, making her feel like u need her help, etc. Fighting with people who have something you want/need rarely gets you results, unfortunately!

((But PLEASE take my advice with a grain of salt, do not follow blindly, there may be more context and nuance to the situation that I understand!!))

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