Ever
wondered what it's like to rent a room in Japan? Well, aside from being denied
a place to live on the grounds that you are a foreigner ( yes, I know
discrimination sucks. But let's just face it. I've had my fair share of
xenophobia ), you will need to go through a lot of mumbo jumbo with the paper
work. This can be a painful process for newcomers. But once you get to
understand the necessary process, everything should be okay :)
As you may
notice, Tokyo has one of the most expensive rates in the developed world. But
prices can vary widely depending on location, size of apartment, features, etc.
If you are
employed ( and I can assume in most cases ), your employer will help you look
for housing and do all the loathsome paper work for you. But just for the sake
of reference, I'll explain how it's like to apply for housing on your own.
First, you
tell your real estate agent your preferences ( e.g. location, size or
apartment, budget, features, etc ) and he/she will show you some ads. Keep in
mind that your monthly rent should be no more than 30% of your monthly salary.
If you find
a room or 2 that you like, your agent will call the landlord and ask him/her
when it's available for viewing. Once the appointment is set, you might be
excited to see your dream apartment. Once you've finished viewing the
apartment, tell your agent ASAP if you'd wish to rent the apartment or not. If
you choose to apply for rent, your real estate agent will give you an estimate
on the total cost for registration ( excluding monthly rent ). Your agent will
then call the landlord and congratulate him/her and tell him/her that you are
interested in renting your room.
But it's too
early to throw a party with your friends or co-workers, as your landlord will
need to evaluate your financial situation. This can take about a week.
Before you
apply for rent, you'll need the following documents handy;
1) income
statement (your employer will give it to you when you ask)
2) copy of
your passport
3) letter of
employment with salary information
In most
cases, you will be required to apply for a mobile phone before applying for
housing. This is so that the real estate agent or landlord will be able to
contact you in case of any emergencies. Also, it is customary to have a
guarantor residing in Japan when you apply for housing. But the trend has
changed slightly, and in many cases, your real estate agent will introduce you
to a third-party insurance company instead. Now, the fees can vary but it
usually ranges upwards to a one-month's rent.
After the
evaluation is finished and you passed your little exam, your agent will tell
you show you the contract. Although the original contract must be written in
Japanese under law, your agent will explain all the necessary information
relating to the contract ( terms of use, liability, what to do in case of
emergency, etc ).
Upon
application, you will be asked to pay approximately 5 to 6 months' rent worth
of fees, which can be a pretty hefty sum. Here's a breakdown of the total fees:
* agent fees
* deposit
* key money
* guarantor
fee
* fire
insurance
* key
replacement fee
Once all the
paperwork and payment is finished, all you got to do is get ready to move in.
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