There are
many issues to consider when you're looking for an apartment in Japan. I will
help you make your room search a lot easier by providing some tips:) And as I
mentioned on my earlier blog, the rates can differ depending on many factors.
Here are the major ones; location ( close to what station, or how far away from
it ), size, creature comforts, age of apartment.
Although
most landlords have been reluctant to rent their rooms to the foreign populace,
this is gradually changing as more foreign nationals are moving to Japan. And
to the detriment of many landlords, Japan has so many vacant housing, meaning
they can't afford to be too picky with whom they wish to rent. A vacant
apartment means money is flying out of the landlord's pocket. And longer
vacancies lead to bigger losses. But regardless of who has the upper hand,
renting a room can be one of the most costly issues on living in Japan. Prepare
to shell out 4 to 6 months' worth of rent.
Here is some
info that will help you when looking for an apartment.
Maintenance
fee - In addition to the monthly rent, you may be
asked to pay a monthly maintenance fee. This money is used for cleaning or
repairing any facilities in your building. Occasionally, the maintenance fees
are included in your monthly rent.
Key
money - In the Land of Rising Sun, it is customary that
you pay your landlord key money when you move in. Rates can range from one to
two months' worth of rent. Many people question the legality of this fee. But I
guess none of us has any choices:/
Deposit - Money you pay your landlord in case you forgot to pay
your rent, or for any damages incurred during the duration of your rent. You
will be charged for any repairs or cleaning fee and this will be deducted from
the deposit when you move out. Ditto on the rates.
Guarantor
fee - You are required to rent an apartment through a
guarantor. Traditionally, someone in your family would be your guarantor, and
he or she would be held liable in case anything a happens to your apartment in
case you cannot be reached. But in your case, you will be asked to apply for
guarantor insurance instead. Rates can be a month's worth of rent.
Agent
fee - This is what you pay your agent for assisting
you with the paperwork to get that dream apartment. Fees are usually a month's
worth of rent.
Key
exchange fee - Fee for exchanging the lock
on your door. As a rule, they always change the key every time someone moves
in.
Contract
renewal fee -This is what you pay your
landlord every 2 years to renew your contract. It usually costs a month's worth
of rent but there's not much paperwork behind it. Some people question its
existence because of the sum.
Fire
insurance - It is mandatory to apply for this when you rent
a room. Your room will be insured from any damages occurring from natural
disasters or fire caused beyond your control. You must renew every 2 years.
Furnished
apartments - as the word suggests, these
apartments come with a complete set of furniture and electrical appliances so
that you won't need to go through the troubles of acquiring them on your own.
Room
size
How to
determine the size of your apartment. Most apartment sizes will be shown with a
combination of letters and a number, such as "2LDK"
Well here's a way to crack the code:
2 -
indicates the number of bedrooms
L - living
room
D - dining
room
K - kitchen
S - extra,
extra! Read all about it! This means storage room.
So, this
means a 2LDK is a "2 bedroom apartment with a kitchen, and an adjoining
dining room and living room. As most Japanese apartments are relatively small,
most living rooms and dining room aren't separated by a wall, meaning you get 2
for 1.
You will
also see apartments labelled "1R",
or "one-room". As you can see, it doesn't have a kitchen space, but
has its own kitchenette.
Room size is
basically measured in square meters. Otherwise, they'd go by a traditional
measurement called "jo", which is
the size of one tatami mat ( 90cm x 180 cm ). Most bedrooms range from 4.5 to 8
jo.
Dos
and don'ts
- When
looking for an apartment, be specific about your preferences. The more
information you provide, the easier it will be for your agent to look for an
apartment that best suits your needs. If you are interested in any of the
apartments your agent recommends you, it's best to make an appointment within a
week. The longer the wait, the slimmer the chances of getting that apartment,
as your prospective landlord won't wait forever.
- Ask for a
quote before you sign any contracts. You have the right to know how much it
will cost altogether.
- It is
customary give your next-door neighbour(s) a little gift on the day you move
into your apartment as a form of greeting. A small box of chocolates or
traditional Japanese confectionery is okay.
- Separate
your trash ( e.g. burnable waste, recyclable paper, plastic bottles, etc ) and
throw them out on the specified date. Rules may vary depending on where you
reside.
- Do not
bring in any pets unless you asked your landlord for permission
- Do not
leave your personal belongings in public access areas. This is not like where
you used to live.
- Finally,
do ask us any questions relating to renting an apartment. We can help you find
the perfect place to live:)
