Tips on renting a room

It can be quite a hassle to rent a room in another country. Aside from the language barrier and the nerve-wracking paperwork, there are a lot of things to consider when you rent a room. But that is no excuse to give up on your room search. If you have any Japanese friends, you can ask them to assist you on your Mission Impossible. Of course, we are more than willing to assist you, along with some of the necessary paperwork. I have explained the brief flow on this page. But other than the necessary knowledge, it would be helpful to arm yourself with some basic knowledge.

Rates

Rates can vary from area to area even if it's within Tokyo. If you're looking for a place to live within the popular areas ( Shibuya, Ebisu, Azabu, Setagaya, Mitaka, Kichijoji etc. ) prices can go up. And as you may know, the bigger the apartment, the higher the rates. Here are some other factors that will also affect rates;

*popular station ( on the contrary, if you pick an area where they only have a minor railway station, prices will surely go down )

*distance from station

*age of building

*floor number. The higher the floor, the higher the rates.

Checking an apartment

We understand how some people are attracted by those tempting photos in the ads. But it's best to always visit the apartment with your agent and see everything for yourself. The apartment may not be as you might have expected.

*Check if there are any supermarkets or convenience stores nearby. Depending on your lifestyle, it would be convenient to have a store or 2 nearby, right?

*Check for any damaged or worn areas ( i.e., torn wallpaper, cracks in glass window, etc ). If the landlord tells you that you will be renting the room as is, you should definitely take photos and keep them until you move out. Show them to your agent and tell them they were there since the day you moved in. You're not responsible for these damages.

What is written in the contract

As a rule, contracts must be written in Japanese. But for those of you who don't understand Japanese, all the important information ( see below for details ) will be explained to you in English or your native language. Your agent is responsible for explaining all the important information as stipulated by law.

Contents of the contract may slightly differ depending on the landlord. But most of the basic contents are the same. Here are some examples:

Responsibility of renter ( you )

*You will be required to apply for fire insurance and use a guarantor when applying for an apartment. Your real estate agent will explain this to you.

*You will be asked to contact your utilities company before you move into your new apartment.

*Apartment must be returned as was when you moved in. Depending on the condition of apartment when you move out, you will be charged cleaning fee. Wallpaper may also be replaced an may incur further fees. All these fees will be deducted from your deposit.

*You will be responsible for replacing any expendable items, such as light bulbs and batteries.

*You may install an air conditioner/heater if you wish. However, you will be required to remove it before moving out of the apartment.

*You will be responsible for any fees incurred for replacing or fixing any damaged items or facilities  resulting from neglect.

Responsibility of landlord

*Landlord or room owner will be responsible for replacing any damaged facilities provided to you in the apartment ( air conditioner, stove, WC, etc ), so long it's used normally in everyday use.

Disclosure of important information

Before you decide to sign any contracts, your real estate agent is required to disclose any important information to you. This may include info such as any accidents that occurred on the property, use of asbestos ( if any ), precautions, or any kind of information that you have the right to know.

Other things to do

In Japan, it is customary to give a little gift to your neighbors within 7 days of moving in. You only need to provide a gift to the person next to you, and to the neighbor living just below and above your room. It doesn't have to be something extravagant: just give them a box of confectionary. 1000 yen will do just fine:-)