Finding a suitable apartment in Manila to rent can be both easy and challenging at the same time depending upon what you are looking for, where you are looking and how much you are willing to pay. As someone who had lived in Manila for 5 ½ years, here are my tips for finding and renting an apartment in Manila:

  • Location, location, location. Manila is notorious for traffic jams. In fact and on a Friday night or during any rush hour and especially during the Christmas holiday season, it can take hours to travel from one business district to another or across the city. Moreover, there are also security considerations when living outside of the major business districts of Manila.

Hence and for foreigners coming to live and work in Manila who plan to rent an apartment, the Makati CBD, Rockwell area, Ortigas CBD, Fort Bonifacio and Eastwood City would probably be the best and most secure locations to look for an apartment. Moreover and given the traffic situation in Manila, living and working in the same business district will probably make the most sense.

  • Finding a suitable apartment in Manila. Once you know a general location where you want to live, finding a suitable apartment will be the next challenge. As with any other major city, Manila apartments will be listed in classified ads of major newspapers or expat magazines such as What's On Expat; websites like Craigslist Manila and HousingInteractive.com; and through individual local brokers (who may also charge additional fees to a tenant) or firms such as international real estate services companies and relocation companies.

However and by far the most effective way to find an apartment in Manila will be through referrals from friends or by simply asking the guards or front desk receptionists of targeted buildings. For example: Friends of mine found a great two bedroom apartment in an older building that lacked a swimming pool but was located in the heart of the Makati CBD for only Php27k per month (or roughly $600 at current exchange rates).

This brings me to the cost of renting an apartment in Manila - which can vary considerably depending upon location, age of the building, amenities (swimming pools are fairly standard for newer complexes) and the size of the unit. A good rule of thumb would be to assume that it would cost at least $300 to $400 a month (excluding utilities but inclusive of condo fees) to rent a studio or a small one bedroom apartment in a newer building in a good location. On the other hand, it may cost as much as several thousand dollars a month to rent a fully furnished three bedroom unit in a luxury building such as Essensa or One Roxas Triangle.

Moreover and generally speaking, rental terms will include a security deposit of up to two months rent while rent itself will include any condo dues but it will not include electricity, water, internet or cable TV. However, rent may or may not also include a parking space. Hence, it's important to get everything clearly in writing before signing a lease agreement.

  • Avoiding real estate scams in Manila. Unfortunately, Manila, like any big city in a developing country, has its share of real estate scams and things to watch out for. Case in point: A friend of mine was renting an apartment in Manila and was paying his monthly rent to his landlord through a real restate broker rather than directly to the landlord. When the real estate broker failed to remit the monthly rent to the landlord, my friend was threatened with eviction and ended up loosing his deposit. In other words, ensure that you are paying the landlord directly and that you receive a receipt or a cancelled check back for each and every payment.

Another case in point: My landlord was often slow about paying condo dues. Hence and on more than one occasion, I received letters from the condo association threatening to turn off my water if the condo dues were not paid up in full!

Finally, another common real estate scam that is no doubt practiced by landlords the world over involves the rental deposit when its time to get it back. Often or not and if the landlord knows that you are leaving the country (or if you have already left the country), landlords will suddenly become too busy to meet with you to settle the deposit or expenses and deductions for "damages" or outstanding bills will miraculously appear. Hence, foreign tenants should just assume that loosing much or all of the deposit is the "normal" cost and "risk" associated with renting an apartment in a developing country where the rule of law is not that strong.

Keeping the above tips in mind will go a long way towards helping you find an apartment to rent in Manila as well as avoid some of the pitfalls associated with renting one.

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