The Rent Control Act says how many months of arrears become a ground, and in the same sentence it says what a tenant may do if you will not take their money. Both halves matter, because the second one decides whether the first is ever reached.
The ground, and what is attached to it
“Arrears in payment of rent for a total of three (3) months: Provided, That in the case of refusal by the lessor to accept payment of the rent agreed upon, the lessee may either deposit, by way of consignation, the amount in court, or with the city or municipal treasurer, as the case may be, or barangay chairman, or in a bank in the name of and with notice to the lessor, within one (1) month after the refusal of the lessor to accept payment. The lessee shall thereafter deposit the rent within ten (10) days of every current month. Failure to deposit the rent for three (3) months shall constitute a ground for ejectment.”
Refusing to accept the rent does not put the tenant into arrears. It gives them a month to consign — and once they are consigning on time, the three months you were counting do not accumulate.
Getting the consigned money
Money paid into court, to the treasurer, to the barangay chairman or into a bank is not lost to you. There is a route to it, and it needs either the court or the tenant’s signature alongside yours.
“The lessor, upon authority of the court in case of consignation or upon joint affidavit by him and the lessee to be submitted to the city or municipal treasurer or barangay chairman and to the bank where deposit was made, shall be allowed to withdraw the deposits;”
Before it gets there
None of this is law. It is what keeps a late month from becoming a case.
- Take the payment even when you are angry about the delay. Refusing it moves the problem from their side to yours
- Issue a receipt every time, including for partial payments, and write what period it covers
- Ask in writing once it is late — the date you asked is the fact you will need
- Arrears is a ground for ejectment, not an eviction. The procedure is separate and it is in “Ending a lease”
- Changing the locks or cutting the power is not part of any of this
Above the coverage line this section does not reach, and the contract governs instead. Which line applies is in “The two thresholds”.
This page quotes the law and links to the source. It is information, not legal advice, and it is not written for any one person’s situation. For your own case, go to your barangay or to a lawyer.
Law text checked 2026-08-09